As freshman year of college comes to a somber close, we are left packing up our dorm rooms box by box with teary eyes and saddened hearts. We fill our dusty suitcases to the brim and say our dreadful goodbyes to our friends as the warmth of the summer sun overshadows the beautiful city we get to call home. This city has witnessed it all—the tears, the countless laughs, the late study nights, the stress seething from our skin. This city has taken us in with welcoming arms and has given us one of the best years of our lives. So thank you, Madison.

Thank you for being you. Your campus still manages to take my breath away, despite the constant Wisconsin bipolar climate changes. From the colorful leaves carefully carpeting your ground in the fall, to the sheets of white snow displayed in the winter, to the sounds of rain drops gently grazing the cement in the spring–you never cease to amaze me. Let’s not forget the jaw dropping sight of State Street lit up at night and the roar of college students echoing in the background. The energy vibrating through the air and the school pride illustrated everywhere still gives me chills down my spine.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to succeed—for providing me with countless ways to use my talent and reach my potential as a student and a person. Your top notch academics challenge me in every way possible, but despite the hard work every student strives for at this institution, it is well worth the late nights and daily visits to Starbucks to order yet another Iced Caramel Macchiato. You have given me hope for my future and the chance to succeed one day.

Last but not least, thank you for a great year. You have given me a plethora of memories and many more pictures to add to my collection. This year was one for the books and I will never forget it. I will never forget constantly feeling broke as my WisCard money seems to quickly diminish or the endless alarms I set for the ridiculous amount of naps I took. Needless to say, freshman year was unexpected in every way as we were thrown into an unknown environment with thousands of random strangers. We did not expect the first college midterm to be so difficult. We did not expect feeling constantly stressed out, but,we definitely did not expect to have so much fun.

Goodbye, Madison. Goodbye, freshman year. Goodbye—for now. In three months I will make my return a little older, a little wiser, and a little more mature. I still have a long way to go, but I don’t doubt you’ll get me there.