With my first year at UT coming to a close in a month, I have a lot to say about my time here. Even though academics, Greek life, and football are a huge part of my freshman experience, nothing has made an impact on my life like my roommates have. Even though I've only lived with one of you for a year and the other for half the year, you guys might as well have been my friends since kindergarten (mainly because you're closer with my hometown friends than I am, but that's another story). Although you both know how much I love you despite not being able to actually show it (lol), you deserve way more than just a "thank you" for being such a huge part of my college life. So here's to you, room 822, and the best roommates a girl could ask for (in ABC order so don't think I like one of you better).

Dear Adrianne,

Honestly, I have so much to say because we've spent so much time together the whole year. You are the first roommate I've ever had and first person my age that I've ever lived with. From both of us being only children to living together 24/7, I wouldn't have rather done it with anyone else. Thank you so much for always letting me borrow your things, sharing all the hometown gossip, and knowing me better than almost anyone.

Not only do you understand me and my refusal to talk about feelings, but you're also probably one of the only people I'll let hug me when I'm upset (that's when you know). We've been on a road trip together, spent countless nights on Cumberland, ate random junk food from the POD until we hated ourselves, and watched some of the best scary movies ever. We were both sad leaving each other for Winter Break so I can't even imagine what it's going to feel like in a month and frankly, I really don't want to.

No matter what, I know you'll always have my back and I'll always have yours. I remember when we met for the first time at orientation and we literally talked for hours; we couldn't even fall asleep until we knew that we covered every word and phrase that we say differently. You know me better than almost anyone else and I don't even have to say anything for you to know how I'm going to react or what I'm thinking. Even though we're living in our own sorority houses next year, I know that we'll still be close and nothing will ever change the bond we've made over this past school year.

I'm going to miss watching The Office and HIMYM together all the time, talking about everyone we hate, tanning, Walmart runs, helping each other ditch plans, and being made fun of for every fun fact, catch phrase, or story I have; but most of all, I'm going to miss hysterically laughing over the dumbest things to the point that we don't even remember what we were laughing about the next day. You really mean more to me than I can ever express and I've loved living with you this year. I appreciate you tolerating my obsessive instrument playing and weird sleeping habits; but in all seriousness, thank you for your honesty, overreacting with me so I don't feel crazy, cheering on my independence, and listening to me complain about everyone and everything. You're not only my friend, but you're my sister too. I just hope that eventually, you'll actually let me roast you because then I'll know it's real (sorry).

Love Always,

Rachel

~~~

Dear Emily,

I know we just moved in together a few months ago, but you've literally become one of my closest friends here after just the first week. From letting me crash in your room when I can't sleep and laughing at my not so funny jokes to staying up with me all night telling stories and gossiping, I don't know what I would do without you.

Thank you so much for introducing me to your amazing hometown friends who I now call my close friends too and being there for me no matter what. We have that kind of friendship where we can go from talking about the most serious things to talking about the most random crap that doesn't even sound like English (excuse me, Mr. Sir?) and that's something I value more than words can describe. I know this semester hasn't been easy in 822 but you're the kind of person that I put out a Snuggie and pillow on an empty bed for because that's how important you are to me.

There's nobody else I would rather have by my side to listen to Halsey and make fun of people that screw us over. I know we're going to be super close next year even though you and Adrianne are both living in a different house and I'm going to miss y'all terribly. Thank you for having the same music taste as me, understanding my hatred of kids, and being the type of friend that I know I can come to for anything.

My guy friends always say that you can tell you have a good friend when they love your main friend group just as much as they love you, which is so obvious about you... since it turns out you have a Snapchat group chat with them. In all seriousness though, I never realized how quickly you can become close with someone until we moved in together this semester and I am so lucky to have the bond with you that we do. I'm going to miss going to breakfast together every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, staying up late trying to figure out random things about life, and being afraid to go to the bathroom because we thought our friends were fighting only to realize that everything was fine the whole time.

You're not only my friend, but my sister too. Thanks for letting me roast you relentlessly and appreciating my "Huhh" noise at the end. Just a word of advice though, you might want to work on being a little less toxic in the future (sorry).

Love Always,

Rachel

~~~

All in all, it goes the same way for both of you: I love y'all so very much and can't imagine living with better people. Thank you so much for all that you do and the kind of bond we have is something that a lot of people don't get the chance to experience, which I am so grateful for. I'm going to miss random Gus's runs because I'm in the mood for grilled cheese, watching Netflix together in our room, and laughing until our stomachs hurt along with everything else, but I know that having something worth missing is a blessing within itself. I might actually cry at the end of the year (that's when you know) and it's all because you guys have made this year something I will hold near and dear to my heart forever. Not only am I so thankful for having you guys around, but I have so much love in my heart for both of you and I always will. Long live Ray Bans, long live being too excited, and long live 822.