I have started writing this at least six times now and I have no idea what to say. How do you put into words the most terrifying, emotional, fantastic, exhilarating time of your life into worlds? Exactly. You can't. Well, you can at least try, which is what I'm about to do.

So to my freshman year,

Coming to school was like floating through midair, unable to stop, except when reality smacked you in the face multiple times through the semester when you had three exams and two papers due in a week and didn't know how to cope. It was something completely new to me and my peers that were incoming freshman. We were like goldfish leaving our tanks for the first time and entering the ocean. We were hit with the reality that not everyone is the same as us and there will be people you have never expected to face, like a goldfish encountering a shark. Coming from a small town, I almost had culture shock. Almost. I had never seen so many people my age that were so different.

Because of this, I became so accepting of all types of people.

I can't believe that this year is almost over. I never really thought that it would come to an end in my biggest moments of despair. You have taught me so much as a person. You literally changed my life. I never thought I would grow up in the slightest and to look back on the progress I have made this year, it leaves me speechless.

Freshman year taught me so much, so quickly. It led me to my second home and provided me with a second family. It showed me that I was more capable that I ever knew. It let me learn that there are a lot of people out there that are willing to hurt me. I went through things that I never thought I would ever go through in my entire life in these short, eight months, but I survived. I lost all my friends. Failed tons of exams after studying for days. I got into some trouble. My heart got broken. But look at that, I lived to tell the tale and I am fine.

So to my freshman year,

You tore me into pieces, but you helped me glue it all back together when it was time. Through the not so pleasurable roommates, the bad food and the good friends, you gave me the full college experience. Looking at the start in August, I never thought it'd end up like this. The people I didn't think would ever leave are long gone and the people I never thought I'd be friends with are in close.

I guess there's not much to say except for, bring on the years to follow.

In slight distress because I still have to take finals,

Hannah