Dear Mom and Dad,

It's that time of year again. Time for me to pack up everything I own and stuff it all into my car. Time for me to say goodbye, again, to the people I love more than anyone else in the world.

Before I leave, I want to thank you for everything that you have done for me.

Thank you for paying for my apartment, and everything in it. Thank you for calming me down as I freak out of fear that I don't have everything. Thank you for staying with me to hang up all of my clothes, rearrange my furniture, and wash all of my dishes. Thank you for taking me to Walmart to buy random things for my apartment, and then taking me back when I thought of more things that I needed.

Thank you for explaining to me which kitchen supplies do what. Thank you for installing a different shower head in my apartment, building my "some assembly required" nightstand, and making my bed for me. Thank you for helping me with everything from changing ink cartridges to scheduling doctors' appointments.

The two of you are my best friends. Last year, you helped me through so much: exams, broken hearts, a change in my major. I know that this year you're going to continue to have my back. I am so lucky to have such great parents who encourage me to follow all of my dreams: you encouraged me to go to my dream school and to pursue my dream job.

I miss you guys so much. I love school and I love being home with y'all. It's so hard to leave either, but that means that I am lucky because I have two great places.

Whether I'm coming back from a weekend home or a summer, it never gets easier to say goodbye to y'all. It is so hard for me to be away from y'all for so long, but I know that you guys are always there to talk, and if I decide to come home for the weekend, I know that you'll welcome me home with open arms.

Please realize how much I appreciate everything you have done for me. Thank you for allowing me to go away to college, and thank you for welcoming me when I come home. As always, thank you for supporting me with everything I do.

Love Always,

Kate