9 months ago, I started a four-year journey, one that was purely my choice, but one I most certainly do not regret. I came into college knowing absolutely no one, as no one from my high school came to Framingham State. It was hard, but I had been to camp before, so I know what it's like to have to start all over. However, it was so much harder than I thought it would be. I have severe social anxiety, and it was hard trying to make friends.

Even though the friends I had in the beginning of the year are not the same as the ones I have now, they still shaped much of my freshman year of college. I have learned that not all of us have left the high school behind us, and still hold the high school mindset. I have learned that not everyone is good for you, and it's okay to move on from toxic people. You don't have to put up with the ones who hurt you. It's okay to step away from them and make new friends. And that is what I did.

So first off, before we leave for the summer, I would like to thank FSU Acapella's E-Board for being there for me when I was alone in the start of the school year, They went above and beyond what they had to do, and I am forever grateful. They made sure I was okay, having healthy habits and that I was doing my homework.

Being at FSU as taught me that there are going to be professors you really click with and others you simply can't stand, I learned that even when you do your best, some are just not going to like you. And that's okay.

I learned that sometimes you won't be best friends with your roommate and that you will be polar opposites. As long as you can coexist and be civil, it should be okay.

Being a freshman is hard. Being a generation one freshman is even harder. My parents had no idea what to expect when I decided to go to a university instead of community college like my brother. They tend to overpack, send me with more than I'll ever use, and even though its a little annoying, I'm grateful for the aid. I know that some of my peers do not have the same luxury that I do. They let me come home whenever I want and they come as soon as they can. I wouldn't have been able to do this school year without them.

FSU also taught me to cherish the friendships I already made. My best friend from high school is still my best friend today and she's been my No. 1 supporter who is not my parents. She's been with me through some hard times in my life and never thinks about not picking up the phone when I call. I miss her when I'm gone and count down the days till I can see her every day. We may live over 50 miles apart now as opposed to the 15 minutes it took to get to each other's homes, but the friendship is still strong.

Thank you FSU, you've been pretty cool this year and I can't wait to see what next year has in store.