It's a weird feeling I must say, reflecting on the idea that just a few months ago this day seemed so far away but today it's here and about to be gone. In September it was hard to believe you were a senior, in November it was hard to believe you were playing your last Thanksgiving football game, In January it was hard to believe I was beginning the end of my junior year of my undergraduate career, and today you have decided where you are going to spend the next four years of your life.

Where you’re going to learn and educate yourself, build your resume, learn the keys to success, travel the world and most of all, become the person you truly are going to be in this world.

It's hard to believe just a few summers ago, you came home from Medford square just a few minutes after 9 o'clock and Mum would text you the famous “Where are you” text while Da stood at the screen door waiting for you to come home. Since that summer, which seems so long ago, your friend group has change and expanded while many more memories have been made. Fast forward to a few summers later, you have come and gone from boot camp for two weeks, went on multiple college visits all over New England, got yourself your first job (shout out to Kelly's roast beef cheese fries) and drove my car a lot too (thanks for always keeping it clean)

Now, here we are, spring soon to be upon us, graduation day in the near and just six short months until you being the start of your college career.

Selfishly, I sometimes wish this day never had to come. Wish we could stay young forever. We shared the best childhood any kid could ever dream of. Those Wednesday nights when we were young and would fall asleep in Mommer’s bed while she read us Arthur books until Da got home from work, the Saturday mornings that turned into afternoons when Da would put us in the car and drive us to Charlestown and take us up that big hill listening to Irish Music AM 950, and if we didn’t say the Our Father at 12 pm, you best believe we would be at 4 o’clock mass at St. Josephs, having holiday concerts on the stairs, Pool Olympics, playing school and wiffle ball in the back yard. But, then I realize you are the change we need in this world. Your positive attitude, you strong work ethic, your fearless demeanor. Every characteristic you possess, are all characteristics I envy.

As the college acceptances rolled in for you over the past few months, maybe I didn't always act super excited but truthfully, I never expected anything less from you. Getting into 6/6 schools you applied to really put your big sister to shame.

I will leave you with this; I know your high school experience was one you will always remember. From the nights in the kitchen we all will forget (god 3am came awfully quick some nights), to the nights all your friends would gather in the garage and sing and dance to Wolfetone songs (what is wrong with you people), the nights after dinner when "family meetings" took place in the living room and you were always the glue who kept it all together, to the days when you went upstairs and looked back and thought "is this real life?" and the loved ones you lost and the forever friends you have made along the way, through all these obstacles and accomplishments, please know I was never anything but proud of you.

While these next four years will be tough (take it from me *super sophmore for lyfe*) and some days you might feel it is easier to give up. Just know to never give up, we are all cheering for you and wishing you nothing less than success. These four years will come and go before you know it. I am always just a phone call or text away. You could also just look at the multiple embarrassing photos you have of me on your phone. These next four years will be the best years of your life, and if anyone in this world deserves that, no one deserves happiness and success more than you!

Go Buccaneers!

With all my love,

Your over emotional (kind of a loser) big sister

XO