As the new semester begins, I am finding myself in some pretty tough situations. It hasn't been easy to be back at school because as I said in two previous articles, my family is losing our home. Last week it was very tough to come in touch with reality that this is happening. The first week back at school was very hard because I couldn't sleep, and I was trying to readjust myself to school and work. The second week back was worse because we finally got notified by the court that our house will be auctioned off soon. As I tried to stay focused on school and get everything done, I found myself being broken at the end of the day. I want to thank my Belles for being there for support.

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Jazmin:

Thank you for the late night talks and letting me cry and open up to you completely. Thanks for understanding everything I say and letting me be someone that has learned how to understand you too. You're seriously the best when it comes down to wanting to talk about something "real." Thanks for hugging me and letting me cry and later watching Bretman Rock videos.

Jocelyn:

Thanks for being such a great roommate! We went through a lot last semester at school, but we've gotten closer in such little time. Thanks for all the laughs and movie nights we have. Thanks for playing Life with me and going on walks when I need to. Thank you for being so great and goofy. You're one of the best partners in crime a girl could ask for!

Diana:

Chona, thanks for being so funny! You know how to make me laugh all the time. Thanks for all the help and all the funny face expressions you make. Those are always the best! Thanks for the countless laugh attacks and when I scare you. Thanks for the Target runs and that time we tried on different masks. Thanks for being weird once you start to get sleepy and it's after 10:00 pm. Oh and of course, "guantanamera!"

Karin:

Thank you for being your weird self! You don't care what anybody has to say, so thank you for being that reminder for me too. Thank you for understanding where I'm coming from when we talk. The times you go on and preach about life is great because you are very, very motivational and you give great advice. Thanks for being a wall and a door away from me, and thank you for the nasty farts (lol) and the other crazy memories we have with the other girls.

Magdalena & Olivia:

I don't get to see you two as often as I would like, but when I do I love it! Thanks for being so funny because you know exactly how to have a good time with others. Magdalena - thank you for the Steak n Shake run with the girls and I. It was such a great night and I really need to hang out with all of you! Olivia - thank you for coming with me to Wendys at night. It was late, but thank you for being there for me when I needed some comforting.

Medinah:

YOU ARE AMAZING, WHERE TO BEGIN? Thank you for being so loud and bubbly! Thank you for just looking at me and giving me a hug when I needed it the most. Thank you for letting me "ugly" cry in front of you and comforting me when my parents went back to Chicago. Thank you for not judging me in any way and instead being very open-minded about everything. You are such a great friend, and I'm very thankful you didn't go to DePaul because I would've never met you!