To the many friends I made at my summer job,
I cannot ever thank you enough for the impact you've had on my life. It sounds like a bit of a weighty statement to make, but you've changed me in ways I hadn't even really realized until now that summer has officially concluded. Now that we've all returned to "real life," that being college for many of us, while others return to their full-time, "grown-up" jobs, I myself have had quite a bit of time to reflect on the summer we spent together; a summer that, often times, seemed endless.
Each and every one of you taught me some level of patience, compassion, humor, and maturity--whether directly or indirectly. Whether it was helping out an angry guest in the most professional manner expected of us, compromising on scheduling issues or 18-hour workdays, pulling each other through emotionally trying moments on and off the clock, or simply dying of laughter in controls over something completely juvenile, I won't forget a moment of it. Each of these moments pieced together a summer I won't ever forget.
To the out-of-state friends and the friends who live hours away, I know for certain we haven't seen the last of each other. Social media can be a beautiful thing for long-distance friendships, and we may be multiple states apart, but it's comforting to know that we could always find a way to meet up on a school break or on a weekend halfway through the winter. Many of us will be reunited next summer when we return to work, and even if some of us do not, I still cherish every moment we ever spent, as trivial or serious a moment it might have been.
To my international loves, perhaps you are some of the friends I will come to miss the most deeply as fall passes and the winter months approach us. Never did I even really consider that I'd one day make such true friendships with people from Turkey, Poland, Bulgaria, or Ecuador. Our friendships taught me so much about knowing other cultures, being patient and being understanding. It's so unreal when I think about how many miles are between us, but I do hope that if one of us doesn't return to work next summer, our paths cross one day again.
I don't think some of you know how hard it was to say goodbye as each of you left; I didn't cry like I thought I would because, for me, it didn't really sink in that summer was over until I came back to school when for once, I wasn't working 14 hours in a day with all of you.
I love you all so much, and every ounce of me hopes to stay in contact. You've changed me for the better and for good, and this summer was an unforgettable, trying, fantastic and magical three months.
Remember, it's never goodbye; it's "see you later."
