Whenever I think about the word "goodbye," I can't help but think about all of the sad songs about exes and the definitive end of something. Goodbye makes me think of an end, and I'm not a fan of endings. It doesn't matter if it's an ending to a good book, a sappy movie or a television series, I hate it. I hate saying goodbye to fictional things and I despise saying goodbye to people in my life. The last time I said goodbye to someone, it was because I knew I would never see them again in this lifetime.

Sure, I can say "bye" or "see you later," because neither of those are definitive. They're casual statements; sentiments of pause rather than end. It's a lot easier for me to say "see you later" or "see you in three weeks" when I leave my boyfriend, because saying goodbye is so formal. It makes it seem like I'll never see him again.

Saying goodbye to my parents when they dropped me off at school? No thanks. That was another, "I'll see you in four weeks" moment. I don't want to end anything. I want to keep things as a continuation. I hate saying goodbye, and that's something that will never change.

I never say goodbye to my friends. In fact, more often than not, we Irish goodbye, meaning we don't say goodbye or even act like we won't see each other the next day. My big and I did it last year when she graduated. We just looked at each other, said, "I'll see you tonight" and walked away. We didn't see each other that night. We never said a formal goodbye, and it made her graduating a lot easier.

So, as I get ready for graduation this year, I will not say goodbye. I will not say goodbye to my sorority. I will not say goodbye to my pledge sisters or little. I won't say goodbye to my boyfriend or any of my professors or classmates. I will not say goodbye to Ohio University or Athens. I'll simply say "see you later," or even a "see you at homecoming," and go on my way, driving into the sunset and on toward my post-grad life.

So, see you later, Athens. Until we meet again.