As our freshman year comes to a close I'd like to tell you thank you. Thank you for letting me borrow your children, whom you love more than anything. Please know that when you cried tears of sadness the day you moved them in, I cried tears of joy knowing I would have a family away from home. As I learned how to "adult" this year, I learned what my mom was always talking about when it came to "the real stressors of life". I learned people won't always give as much love back to you as you give to them. I learned sometimes you HAVE to pull an allnighter even though you've already been awake for 48 hours. I learned that trips to Sheetz and Walmart at 2 o'clock in the morning can turn out to be more fun than any real vacation. I learned if you all eat hibachi together and stuff yourself so much you have to drive pantless back to campus, my friends will encourage it. I learned if you don't go to Bdubs every Thursday night for the boneless wing discount, do you even go to Wesleyan? I learned if the stereo in the car isn't on "max volume" it will be in 2 seconds. I learned if one of us has cute clothes, WE ALL have cute clothes. I learned when I need to cry and I run out of tissues, someone will have some. I learned when I'm running late to class, my friends are more than happy to make my coffee for me, even though they've already done it three times that week. I learned I'll never sit alone at lunch or dinner. I learned if I need to run my stress away at 3 o'clock in the morning, I'll get texts every hour making sure I'm okay. I learned if you want a family pet, a mouse is the way to go. I learned not to hang a huge painting at head level on the wall beside my bed, because it will constantly be taken down. I learned privacy is irrelevant. I learned to wait until late at night to shower so I wouldn't have to go alone. I learned if one prank happens, gain allies quickly because it is world war 3. I learned when I'm so sad I just want to sleep all day, I WILL go out in the sunshine and blow some bubbles while talking about my feelings because my friends won't take no for an answer. I learned it's okay to eat approximately 7 meals and ice cream in one day, because sometimes life really sucks. I've learned this is a place I can be myself free of any judgment or the cruelty of the outside world. I learned even when every guy I thought would never let me down does, my friends never will. I learned no matter how many horrible decisions I make, I've found a love in them that will last a lifetime. See I'm not exactly sure where my life is going, or where I'll end up; but I know my friends will end up there with me. I'd like to take this time to plead to you - the next time you and your child are arguing over a mistake they made, take a moment to remember their good intentions. Remember that even when they're the reason you're mad, sometimes they've been my only source of happiness. Remember that even when they drive you crazy, I'd go crazy without them. Remember the beautiful and intelligent individual you've raised, and know that some of my best qualities have been shaped and nutured by them. If you ever think they could've tried harder at something, know on a daily basis they try hard to make my life as easy as possible. You can rest easy knowing you've raised a child who has impacted my life in a way i'll never take for granted, nor forget. So with this letter I want to thank you, families of my friends, for not only letting me visit you, doing my laundry, sending me back baked sweets, and treating me as your own child - but providing me with a support system like no other. Because even on my worst nights, and trust me I've had plenty, I know I have my friends. And after enduring our freshman year together, I can bravely say I'm ready for all the trials and tribulations I will encounter in the future, because my friends are here to endure them with me. Thank you for reminding me love can come in any shape or form, but when it comes from people as genuinely amazing as my friends are, it's the best kind of love in the world.
