There are people you meet in your lifetime that have such a strong impact on your life. They change you. They make you a better person. They change your outlook on life. They challenge you. They inspire you. The day I met you, I had no idea that you would impact me so strongly.
First, I want to start off by saying thank you. Thank you for pushing me to my limits. Thank you for encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone. Thank you for believing in me so much. Thank you for always joking with me. Thank you for making me feel so welcome in a group of strangers. Thank you for not only being my mentor, but being my friend. Thank you for introducing me to the world of public relations; without it, I wouldn't have found my passion for it and would have never known that communications is the major for me.
I wouldn't be the woman and leader I am today without you. Honestly, I wouldn't have taken up a leadership position if it wasn't for your encouraging words and belief that I would excel in that field. Although it's a tiny role, you made sure I felt important and knew that I was doing well. Being a leader in such an incredible organization changed me. Public speaking was never my thing, but having to stand up and speak about something as small as a T-shirt order has made public speaking just a little bit easier for me. Having to run a committee has made me realize that it takes more than one person to get a job done and that it's OK to be a leader and need someone (or a group of people) to lean back on for help.
I am so thankful that I got to meet someone who is just a quirky and awkward as I am. You have shown me that it's OK to be who I am and not care what others think, especially in such a large group of women. You have taught me that when in doubt, laugh at yourself.
It saddens me to see you leaving, especially since we just got close and it seems like you just got here, but I know you are going onto bigger and better things (although nothing is better than Charleston). You will always be one of my role models and I will never forget how much you have taught me in such a short amount of time.
I wish you the best of luck on your journey next year and hope that you find your way back to Charleston very soon. I hope that we never lose contact. I hope that one day you do open up your own photography studio and achieve your dreams. I'm so glad that I can call you not only my friend, but a sister. Thank you for everything you've done for me in this short amount of time. It's not a goodbye, but a see you later!
