Dear freshman self,

Well you did it. You graduated from school, and not just any school but a 4-year and well-acclaimed state university. It took you an extra semester but that doesn't matter. Why? Because you did it! You graduated! You never thought you would, but you did.

So freshman self, thank you. Thank you for pushing through all those late nights and breakdowns just so we could cross the finish line. Thank you for never giving up on your dreams. Thank you for working hard and working through school so that you could go out and achieve those dreams.

Thank you freshman self for making a lifetime of memories. These are memories that we will cherish forever. Like the time we went to Tumbleweed with everyone and then stayed up until 3 am eating pancakes at IHOP. Or the nights we spent hanging out in the lounge just getting to know everyone and creating friendships that will last a lifetime. It doesn't matter which memory it is or who it was with, all that matters is that we created a lifetime of memories in 4 1/2 years. So thank you freshman self for being adventurous and taking chances.

But most importantly, thank you for being you. No matter how many times you could've tried to be someone else, you stayed true to who you were and who you wanted to be. College changes everyone a little, but despite those life changes you maintained everything that you associated with yourself. Thank you for teaching me that it's okay to not party all the time and to stay in and watch movies. Thank you for teaching me that giving up on the nerdy side of my personality wasn't okay; there's no reason to throw away yourself. Thank you freshman self for being real, despite the mistakes we made and the lessons we learned.

Thank you freshman self for being there and teaching this senior self (graduated self I might add) all the skills needed to make it to the end. Make it to the moment where we can walk across that stage in the cap and gown and reminisce on our past self, congratulate the present self, and cheer on the future self.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

A graduated self that is very much ready for the future, but will never forget the past