Whether we met at convention, at a summer camp, or during a leadership conference, I'm so thankful that you found your way into my life. Most of the time, we are only given a few short days together before we branch off to our separate corners of the country, but I’m convinced we spent some of the best days of our lives together. I’m counting down the days until I get to see you again, as we tackle convention centers in our official dress, laugh throughout the latest hours of the night in our cabins, and make as many memories as possible, the smiles never leaving our faces.

Anytime I prepare for an FFA trip, my heart pounds with excitement for the new journeys ahead, and the new places I’ll see, but more importantly, I anticipate the new people I’ll meet, and the old friends I’ll be reconnected with. I’m convinced that FFA students are the kindest, and most open-minded people you’ll ever come across, and perhaps that’s why it’s so easy to form the wonderful friendships within this organization. Whether we were sharing stories in our hotel rooms, partnering up for camp activities, or simply introduced to each other through some weird twist of fate, I always feel an instant connection with my FFA friends.

It's amazing making friends so quickly, and as soon as I return home from any FFA trips, I begin bragging to my friends about the amazing people I met. I hope you know that I'll always tell stories of the memories we made together. Whenever I’m missing you, I’ll flip through pictures we took, and whenever I'm feeling low, I know you're just a text, Snapchat, or facetime call away -- because no matter the distance, I know that you've got my back. I hope you know I have yours, too. Don't get me wrong, I love my friendships with the lovely people I meet while on FFA adventures, but there is a side to these friendships that always makes my heart feel just a little heavier. I love our friendship, I love the spontaneity, the stories, pictures, adventures, laughs, and everything in between, but I’ll never be a fan of the goodbyes. I hate the goodbye hugs that are laced with the unsettling feeling of ‘I don't know when I’ll see you again.’ Wiping away the tears and picking myself up after we wave goodbye will always be hard for me. But, despite the hardships that come with going our separate ways, our friendship will never fail to hold a special place in my heart.

You know me better than some people I've known for my entire life, you make my favorite trips even better, and you remind me that distance means so little when a friendship means so much. Whenever I think of our memories, I'm overwhelmed with nostalgia and happiness, because FFA trips and the friendship we created make me feel that way. We formed something so beautiful and so strong in such a short period of time, and I can't wait to see you again.

With love,

Your FFA friend.