Let me begin by saying this: you will be missed. The thought of going to the library and not seeing you there makes me want to cry. Knowing that you will no longer just be an Uber ride away from a Saturday morning brunch destroys me. Knowing that I will never see you again inside of our bar makes me tear up. The graduating seniors this year are some of my closest friends, and I want you to know that you made this year amazing for me, and I hope you will never forget the memories you made over the last four years.
To my senior best friend; I cannot imagine a college experience without you. You made college for me, and to know you will not be here next year makes me feel as though someone has ripped my heart out of my chest. I will never forget the late nights we spent together. I will never forget the next mornings where we explain our crazy nights before. I will never forget the inside jokes, the memes, or the Snapchats we sent throughout this year. I will never forget the deep conversations we had about life, love, friendship and society. You are my other half, and I cannot imagine a world where I won't see you everyday anymore.
But this isn't just about you, my senior best friend, it's about all the seniors who are leaving. And although this is a sad moment for us all, I know how selfish it is for me to be sad because although this is a goodbye from me, it's a hello to the rest of the world.
You just graduated, and although I am sad, I know I should be happy.
You have finally completed college. You are ready for the world. The entire world lays before you and you have never had more opportunities than you do now. You can do whatever you put your mind to, and I know you only have great memories to make from now on.
You are about to start the first job for the rest of your life. You are about to meet so many new people and make so many new memories that college is going to be a forgotten memory. Though I know you will never forget the memories we made, I know that you are going to make even better memories in the future with even more amazing people. You have nothing but your future ahead of you. Even though it's a terrifying concept, it's a beautiful one as well. Today is the beginning of the next chapter of your life, and as every writer knows, it's important to start your chapter with a hooking line to grasp the reader's attention.
Begin this chapter with a great opening line. Wake up today ready to face the world. It's a new beginning for you and a chance to define yourself as the person you want to become. Although this door has shut, ten more have opened with so many possibilities for you.
So though you shall be missed, I hope you make the memories we made together with another. I hope you have more wild and crazy nights. I hope you only move forward, and don't waste your time looking back. I hope that you become the successful and amazing person I always knew you were. I hope you embrace your future, and don't worry about your past.
As a very wise Harvard Law Graduate once said:
And I have more faith in you than anyone else. I know the future holds nothing but amazing things for you. And I know all of my tears are wasted because you have so many great adventures ahead, it is selfish and foolish for me to try and hold you back.
Congratulations Class of 2017.
