When I started community college in August of 2010, I was determined to keep to myself. I vowed that I was going to focus on my studies and not worry about socializing. I managed to keep that promise to myself for the first two years, but in 2012 I found myself in the student center, talking to new people and making friends. Fast forward to 2014. Done with community college and starting university. Determined more than ever to stay focused on my school work. I made it less than a month before I found myself conversing with my classmates and making friends. While I've met and talked to a lot of people in my seven years of college (wow guys, has it been that long!?), there are only a handful of people that I can say seriously touched my life. This is for you.
I've had this letter stashed away in my journal, unfinished. Unsure what to say, how to express my extreme gratitude for you, never sure how to thank you all for being in my life. Friendships don't always work out the way we plan. Sometimes they fall apart, and sometimes when you least expect it, people come into your life and you just know they're the people you need in your life.
You all have taught me how to laugh, how to have fun, and how to love myself. From spending hours in the student center or the Rose Garden talking about life to lunch runs to Hardy's, you have given me memories to last a lifetime. And I want to thank you. Because even if you didn't know it, you were helping me shape my life.
To my old college friends -- You have seen me at my worst and you have continued to love me, I don't know what I would do without you. We shared laughter and smiles, tears, anger, love, and heartbreak. You pushed me to explore and expand my horizons while we were at school together, and you continue to inspire me. You've shown me that despite the time we've been apart you continue to care about me.
We have all gone our separate ways, and we are living our lives to the fullest. But I know that if I needed you for anything you'd be there. Y'all helped me get through my last two-and-a-half years of community college with my sanity still [mostly] in tact.
Parting ways has been one of the biggest tests of our friendships -- does that sound cliché? When I graduated, I held onto the notion that I'd still talk to you all regularly and I would still see you all. But life happened and things changed; staying in touch became difficult. But that's what social media and kick ass coffee shops are for, right? Staying in the loop and catching up.
So thank you. Thank you for being by my side. Thank you for loving me all these years. I know that I haven't always been the best friend, but I've always tried. Know that I'll always be here for you, no matter what. And I love you guys.
To my new college friends -- You guys are spring chickens in my life, new to my antics and instability, but I feel like we've been friends forever. But don't think that just because you're new in my life means that you haven't had a significant impact on it. Inside jokes, nicknames, and late-night rants about our crushes and significant others. We've had experiences and adventures together that I never thought I'd have, and we've taken on the world together. We have watched each other grow and take on new challenges and new opportunities. We've watched each other succeed and fail, and we have always known who has our backs.
In a few years -- a few months for some -- we're all going to be going our separate ways. New cities, new states, new countries. We're going to live our lives to the fullest and accomplish our dreams. But I know you'll always remain a significant part of my life.
Every single one of you -- old college friends and new -- have become an integral part of my life, and I don't think I can thank you guys enough. For all you have done and for all that I know you will do in the future, thank you. I love you guys.
