As freshmen year comes to a close, I can't help but reflect back on one of the best years of my life and all of the experiences leading up to it.
I remember the first day of high school like it was yesterday. I remember being a small fish in a big pond, thinking graduation would never come.
Before I knew it, it was graduation day. I remember curling my hair, putting on my cap and gown, taking a ton of pictures with my friends beforehand, and walking across the stage and accepting my diploma.
Summer started to set in, and I remember thinking it would last forever. As I enjoyed the late nights laughing with friends, my sun-kissed skin, lake days, and living it up before we all departed our separate ways, I was suddenly packing my life up into a few boxes and preparing for a new chapter.
On move-in day, I was terrified and excited at the same time. I was thrilled to start "the best four years of your life" everyone was so excited about, but sad to say goodbye to the people and life I knew so well. I was excited for a year of firsts, but nervous because everything was so new. Before I knew it, my parents said their goodbyes and left me on my own for the first time.
Flash forward seven months and it has been one of the best years of my life. As freshman year comes to a close, I have one thing to say to it: thank you.
Thank you for showing me who my true friends are, and that not everyone from high school will make it to the next chapter of your life.
Thank you for all the crazy, fun memories with some of the coolest people I have ever met. Thank you for bringing such incredible people into my life, some I know will be in my life for a very long time.
Thank you for all the memories that were "so college." Memories like going to my first college party, waiting outside for three hours for my first football game, going to Denny's at three in the morning, ordering a pizza at four in the morning, going to see my friend's band play in a bar, pulling an all-nighter writing a paper (that was horrible), etc. Thank you for all the memories I wouldn't have been able to experience anywhere else.
Thank you for sparking new interests, like my desire to take a film class, join a Bible study group, join a sorority, etc.
Thank you for showing me that I don't have to follow my original plan, and that it's okay to change it up or change it entirely.
Thank you for showing me I am an independent women who can take on the world as I can do anything I set my mind to. Thank you for showing me that I can be on my own and do just fine, but that it's okay to call my parents if I ever need something or just want to talk.
As hard as it is to screw up and as much as I hate it, thank you for letting me make mistakes but learning from the mistakes. Thank you for giving me the freedom to find my way, make my own decisions, and discover what I want in life.
As freshmen year comes to a close, I am sad to say goodbye to my dorm room, my roommate, my new best friends, my beautiful college campus, and my new life. However, I am excited to go home for the summer and hang out with my parents, pets, and the friends I kept in touch with. I am excited to take a break from the daily stress of college and just relax. As I say goodbye to freshmen year and prepare for sophomore year, I am excited to be a little wiser, yet make mistakes and learn from them; I am excited for new experiences and new "so college" memories. I am excited to make more friends, live in my sorority house, go to Denny's at three in the morning, and live it up while finding my way and planning my future. As freshmen year wraps up as I temporarily say goodbye to the new life I have created, I have two words to say to one of the best years of my life: thank you.
