Dear Kayla,

Fun fact: We made it to second semester of senior year! I know, you probably are freaking out wondering how you could ever get this close to graduation, but you make it so calm down, take your Xanax and go to class. I have you to thank for making this phase in my life possible. So, get your half-baked ice cream (that you know you shouldn't be eating!) and get ready to get emotional, you sappy weirdo.

Freshman year is rough, I don't have to tell you that. But it made us so much stronger. I know those doctors appointments and all the uncertainty is slowly tearing you apart but it gets better. Ok, well it gets worse before it gets better, but it will get better! I know technically Mom forced you to go to the hospital that night, but thank you for listening to her. I don't even want to think about where I'd be if you hadn't gone. It's gonna be a long three years of figuring out what exactly everything means and how to handle it, but I figured it out... kinda, so have no fear, you'll get there!

Thank you for getting politics out of the way when you did. You don't know this yet, but the election of 2016 is gonna be a doozy and I'm really glad that I didn't have to take a politics class during it. I know it meant pushing back math until a really bad time (hold tight, you'll get through it! Cypher is watching out for you!) but it was WAY worth it.

Thank you for fighting for what you wanted to do with your life and not letting people pressure you to be a Spanish teacher like we always said we would be because we were terrified we weren't good enough to do what we really wanted. Becoming a Theatre major was the best thing we ever did and I can't imagine my life without it. I know it's terrifying, and I'm honestly still terrified. But we will figure it out. We made the right choice and it made the stress of the doctors appointments and required classes and friend drama so much less stressful. So thank you thank you thank you!

Thank you for meeting our best friend and making her like us. She has been the most influential part of our college experience (besides Geoff, because he's the world's best advisor) and I don't know if I would've made it this far without her. Things get rough for her and for you (but more for her) but you guys stick with each other through it all and I can't imagine how we would've survived without each other.

Thank you for joining Theta. Girl, it is the best thing we could've done. Get ready because you are on an epic roller coaster that is gonna take you so far! So much farther than you ever thought you'd go! Stay strong, be assertive, HAVE FUN! Your sisters are there to catch you when you fall, and you will fall... a lot. Enjoy every moment of it because it is so incredible. The people you meet and the leadership potential you gain is going to forever change our life and make us better and more prepared for the real world. Thank you thank you thank you for Theta. I couldn't imagine life without it.

Thank you for choosing Puget Sound. I know it broke your heart a little to not go to Pennsylvania, but you made the right choice. I can't imagine being over there now. Puget Sound really is our home and the experiences we have had here have forever changed us for the better. I know being close to home is not what we wanted, but it was super helpful with the medical issues and nice to be around the fam sometimes. Just sometimes. The people here are incredible and so helpful. You get an incredible opportunity that will help you decide what you're going to do with your life. Hack Hack Chop Chop!

I started my last classes ever this week (they're super fun, don't worry!) and it has been bittersweet. We graduate in less than four months and its super nerve-wracking. But I wouldn't have made it here without you being a badass Freshman. So thank you Freshman me. Now put down that gluten, do your homework, and get us to Senior year like I know you can.

Love,

Kayla