Dear ENGL 3312,

Thank you. I'll probably say it ten thousand times throughout this article, but just know that every single one of them is genuine. I hope you all don't mind me shouting you out here this way, but it's the only way I know how: through words. And I figured with our last class behind us and only our final exam left to be together, I wanted to write something commerative and celebratory (and since there's only 9 of us in total, I didn't think it be too long of an article piece). You all are immensely talented human beings, and we've had a great professor to help us grow as writers and readers. I honestly couldn't be more grateful for this semester, because it's shown me how to be okay again (sorry to borrow from you, Kendall)! In all seriousness, I've learned so much from all of you, so without further ado, a proper thank you to each of you.

To Mackenzie: Thank you for being such a confidant and a wonderful best friend. You've seen me through my stresses over crafting the non-existent perfect piece and helped me to see that a signature voice is one of the most important things to use in writing, especially with personal essays. I want you to know that I think you're one of the best English majors I know, and I hope you keep writing, even when you think you can't (because that's when you should).

To Claudia: Thank you for being such a visionary. You have such a way with crafting a whole new perspective for people to read and watch and see, it's spectular, truly. Please don't ever stop standing up for what you believe in and please keep speaking the truth for everyone that needs it. You are a powerful voice, and you've used it in ways that I can only dream of using mine. By the way, when you go on tour (because you will), we'll all be there at your first show – and probably every single one after that.

To Koryn: God bless you and your unique ways of creating moments. I hope you know how special that talent is: taking people places they've never been and introducing them to people they've never met all through words on a page. I hope that you continue to write from your soul and I sincerely hope you can let yourself write more happy stories, because your blog piece is beautiful. Never a dull moment when it comes to your work because you write with such a depth. PS: Tumblr blog please? Okay, thanks.

To Kendall: Thank you for showing me the value in simplicity. You never sugarcoat things, and that's a really refreshing way to write. I commend you for sharing your rawest self with us because not a lot of people can do that and do it well. I hope you grow more confident with your work, because your pieces really have been some of your best over the year I've gotten to read your work. You have such a great personality and that really shines in your writing, so keep doing what you're doing and don't let anyone tell you any different.

To AJ: Thanks for showcasing the idea of "flow." No but seriously, it's been very cool to see how you see the world. You take so much from your experiences, and they really resonate on the pages you've shared with us. Thanks for being the one to say exactly what's on your mind, even if you can't quite form a cohesive sentence -- that's what real and that's what's important.

To Anna: What can I say other than I've gotten to see a whole different side to you than the girl I knew in high school. I really hope you continue to craft poignant, hilarious and well-rounded work because that's your place and you deserve to be here with that. You've brought so many new words and new ways of thinking to my attention through your essays this semester and it's been so refreshing to see. PS: Thanks for doing the ENGL conference with Mackenzie and I - you're a gem, always and forever.

To Tyler: I know we've been in quite a few classes together now, but seeing what you have to say in essay has been very profound. You have a great voice and a trademark bit of humor that comes through in every piece you've written - please don't ever lose that. You're insanely good at crafting an argument and supporting your claims, which is something that I only wish I could do. You never shy away from telling things like they are, something I also admire. Thanks for being unabashedly yourself.

And finally, to Shannon: Thank you for being the best mentor I could have ever had throughout my college years. Thanks for inspiring me during that first semester of my freshman year in the digital INST class, because without that, I wouldn't be where I am now in the English major. Thanks for helping me find my way here at Otterbein, and thank you for giving me and all my other classmates a safe space to share our deepest secrets and greatest triumphs. I hope I've done the essay genre proud and I hope we've been a successful class for you.

Thank you all times ten thousand, my heart is so full.

Sincerely,

Kari