Dear College Family,

I got ready for college unaware of what to expect. We all were anxious, yet excited to start our lives together. We came from all over the northeast, for the most part, and it's quite amazing that we found each other. I have many thank you's to say to you as we finally wrap up finals week, and had a whole semester together.

I was nervous coming here, because not only was I starting school in a completely different place, but I needed to find a new social group to be a part of. I knew if I started early on with making friends, the transition would be easier and I would feel less alone. I thank you for being so open and willing to let us into each others lives. I am so blessed that we all met up during the summer and went to concerts, dinners, grad parties, and so many other different activities together before school started. It made me feel as though I had a family already, which was something I was not expecting so quickly.

I thank you for being understanding, and for being friends that we each can rely on. College is not a walk in the park, but it helps so much when you have someone to talk to when things get crazy and it seems like nothing is going your way.

I thank you for teaching me how to contour my face before going out on weekends-it was something I never really knew until college. Oh, and also to a certain someone for shaping my brows every few weeks.

I am thankful to have fun study buddies, who will willingly do all nighters in the library with me and do endless "Dunkin runs" when only the drive thru is open.

Thanks to those who do trades with dorm food. (Microwave mac and cheese sometimes gets old and I am happy you guys will trade something better.)

I thank the guys in the group, who tend to give very helpful relationship advice. It really does help.

I'm thankful for drives to McDonald's when EVERYBODY wants a McFlurry, and slowly upsetting the workers there when we have to do 5 separate transactions for the same thing.

I am thankful for how compassionate you are. Who knew a fish funeral could be so touching?

Thanks for making the common room kind of like a second home, where we have prayer services when we have weekends we regret, ear piercings, facials, mannequin challenges, dance parties, and where we sometimes burn soup and ramen on the stove.

Thanks for keeping me up with constant buzzing on my phone from our groupchat, and the endless memes that tend to be sent when we all think each other is asleep. Who knew a group chat of 17 can get that hectic?

I'm thankful that we're all different, yet have many things in common. It makes us fun, crazy, and unique in our own way.

Thanks for welcoming me home. I cannot wait to see you in a month! #dirtyberk.