Saying goodbye can be tough, even though everyone has had to say it. Growing up, I hated saying goodbye to my friends after school, even though I knew that I would be seeing them the next day. I hated saying goodbye to my parents before going to school, even though I knew they would be there in the parking lot at 3:30 on the dot to pick me up.

As I grew up, saying goodbye started becoming even more difficult. It started in 8th grade when a few of my friends were accepted into private high schools. Most of us were going to the same public high school down the block but I still had to say goodbye to a few of my friends. It wasn’t too difficult, however, because my close friends were going to the same high school as me. Throughout the years, I said some little goodbyes to that year’s graduating class.

Four years passed and that’s when I experienced my very first, truly difficult, real goodbye. I was leaving. I said goodbye to most of the people I had grown up with at my high school graduation. And after a couple months of enjoying some freedom, I said goodbye to my best friends who were always there for me through thick and thin. I said goodbye to my parents and little sister, which was strange considering I’ve always lived with them.

After moving nine hours away from home and living away from pretty much everyone I had grown up with, I learned that saying goodbye isn’t as bad as I thought. I learned that the meaning of “goodbye” is determined by me. I controlled the meaning of the goodbyes I said. For some people, it was a solid “Goodbye, I probably will not ever see you again.” But for others, it was more of a “Goodbye, I’ll see you over the holidays.” For some, it was simply a “We’ll talk on the phone again in a few days” kind of goodbye.

Another year of school is almost over and I’m getting ready to make another round of goodbyes. Goodbye to all the seniors on my fencing team who have all been such important influences on me. I have grown so close to you all both on and off the strip and I am definitely going to miss that dynamic. I know you guys are going to excel in whatever you end up doing post graduation, and I know the triton pride will pull you back to here to visit us often.

Goodbye to all my graduating sisters in my sorority. I will miss all of the memories we made at philanthropies, sisterhoods, and exchanges. You all have been so important to shaping the chapter into what it is now, and we can’t be any prouder to call you our sisters. I will wear all the letters you passed down to me with pride to continue the incredible legacy of sisterhood.

Goodbye to my friend who is joining the Air Force. You and I have grown so close this year and I’m really going to miss having you around every day. But I can’t wait to see all the incredible things you do at the USAFA. I already have your mailing address saved and you will no doubt be hearing from me often!

Goodbye to my friend joining the Marine Corps. I know you will only be gone for a year and will be less than an hour away from us, but I’m going to miss being able to bother you whenever I want. I know you’re going to do some really cool things and I can’t wait to hear all your stories when you come back.

To my friend spending the next year in Europe, if I am being honest, I couldn’t stop laughing when you told me that you are going to Scotland and Ireland to teach Mormonism to people in Mandarin. That is so random but so cool at the same time! I think it is awesome that you get to do something you really love, even if it means leaving us for a while. I look forward to sending you many emails!

Goodbye to the people I lived with this year. Once upon a time, we were all complete strangers who were told a month before moving in that we will be living together for the next year. I’m going to miss our Regular Show/ Bob’s Burgers marathons, literally exploding our power sockets and our uncountable lockout incidents. Some of that really sucked in the moment but we all grew so much closer through those experiences. I really hope to see you around campus next year!

Goodbye to the people I have met in my classes. I know that three hours a week for ten weeks sounds like a really insignificant amount of time, but I’m really going to miss complaining about classes with you. I wish you luck on everything you do next.

Goodbye to all the friends I’ve made this year. The next two months are going to be ridiculously long but I can’t wait to brag about my incredible summer once we’re back in the Fall.

I’ve learned to say goodbye in a more hopeful way. Goodbye sounds so permanent when they don’t have to be. Goodbye is “used to express good wishes when parting or at the end of a conversation.” That doesn’t mean that it is the end for all of eternity. I’m ready to say goodbye to the people I will be parting with, and I’ll see you again soon.