I remember signing up for the online housing website. A bit like a roommate "match.com." I was just looking for a decent human being who would deal with my country music obsession and how I drink tea with almond milk.

I never thought I would find you, but thank goodness I did.

Amber Armstrong

I cannot thank you enough for reaching out when I was too scared to shoot you a message. We went back and forth on what our favorite TV shows were, how we both played Gayle in "Almost, Maine," and all the (awkward) surface level questions in between. We agreed to live together for the next year.

But oh boy, I was completely terrified. What if you went to bed at 3 am? What about if you stored drugs in my tea compartment? Or you stole my toothpaste? So many awful thoughts flew through my head, but thank you for putting them to rest.

I remember moving in and our lamps and calendars matched. You gave me a hug and I knew it was all going to be okay. I knew this next terrifying year was going to be okay.

I never thought my roommate would become someone I couldn't imagine my life without, a blessing I didn't know I needed.

You may not love the country music I listen to, and I may never understand why you like kale so much, but thank goodness we can both jam out to "Humble" when things get rough. Even though I'm not religious, I know there is a reason the universe put us in room 331 together for the past eight and a half months.

Thank you for helping me explore Bellingham and bringing out the adventurous side of me (even though I'm still working on it).

Amber Armstrong

Thank you for teaching me how to be (almost) waste-free and that medication expires (yes, I had no idea). Thank you for the advice on every issue I had, from the boy issues I was dealing with to what I should treat myself to at 10 pm (crepes were always a good idea).

You are an incredible human being, from how you handle everything with such grace and poise, to the tasty smoothies you make. As cliche as this may sound, you are beautiful inside and out. You radiate kindness and love everywhere you travel, something that is constantly hard to find in others.

I am so blessed that you slid into my messages more than a year ago. Everything you have gone through and accomplished in the past eight months is astounding and I applaud you for the attitude you have throughout it all.

Between our late night runs to Blouvard Park so we could "run" to cleaning the bathroom our suitemates trashed, I have loved it all and I hope you understand that. I hope you understand that you helped me feel like I was home, even if our home was only a box-like dorm with paper thin walls (I'm not going to miss hearing our neighbor's loud music).

Your positivity and intelligence helped fill the hole I had in my heart while being away from my family and everything I knew.

I cannot wait to call you up in 20 years and explain how I saw the boy I went on a Tinder date with during freshman year at the grocery store.

Thank you, Roomie. I love you with all my heart and I truly believe I couldn't have gone through this stressful, funfilled, exhausting year without you by my side. Thank you for it all (and for always closing the curtains).