The past four years of my life I have spent in a place that was initially foreign to me. Over time, it has transformed into a place that I love and a place I consider my “home away from home.” To be honest, I was reluctant when I first came to college. I lacked confidence in myself and in my decision to become a teacher. I did not like change and I was not excited to leave home, contrary to the majority of my peers surrounding me. If it was not for a small group of people who believed in me when I was making those important decisions, I would not be where I am now. It is because of those people who supported me and encouraged me that allowed me to be sitting in this dimly lit library room at 11pm, drinking my dark roast Starbucks coffee, writing for an organization that has become such a significant part of my life. I owe an endless amount of gratitude to those people. I owe them more than I could ever give them.
To my roommates…
Thank you for letting me keep the lights on, on school nights, even when it was way past midnight and you had 8am classes. Those extra few hours at night gave me that time I needed to cram for my test the next day or submit a paper that was due at 11:59pm. I needed that. Thank you for accepting me, in all of my weird phases, all of my mood swings, and through all of the times I just wanted to be alone. Thank you for encouraging me to continuing on, through your kind words, motivational notes, coffee dates, and late night snacks. My time in college would not have been the same without you.
To my classmates…
Thank you for challenging me. Thank you for showing up everyday, willing to share your thoughts and your insights, bringing in your personal experiences. I think we were able to not only learn from our professors, but we were able to learn from each other as well. Thank you for also being my silent support system. Even if it was not always verbalized, we all were there for each other. Through the shortened semesters, field placements, midterms, papers, projects, and student teaching, I knew that I could text any one of you, and you would be there to help. I do not know if I will have the opportunity to be part of a group like this again.
To my friends…
Thank you for reminding me to relax. Thank you for taking me away from my computer and allowing me to make memories other than the hours spent writing lesson plans. I will always remember our late night pizza runs, craft parties, geocaching adventures, café dates, Netflix binges, and random adventures around campus, regardless of what time of day (or night) it was. Thank you for never questioning my third serving of food at the Upper Deck or when I ate a whole pint of Ben and Jerry’s for the third night in a row. You understood that some days (or weeks) were tough, and you were by my side, making me share my ice cream with you. I will always cherish these memories.
To my professors…
Thank you for inspiring me. Thank you for expanding my thoughts, opinions, and mindset, to be more open of the world around me. I will be forever grateful to the professors who believed in me, even when I didn’t do well on a test or on a lesson plan. Thank you for not always giving me a good grade, because you knew I could do better. But thank you also for being patient and understanding when you knew I needed it the most. My college career would not have been possible without your guidance.
To my family…
A formal thank you would not even come close to the amount of “thanks” you deserve. You have been one of the only constant support systems I have had throughout these past four years. Through almost forcing me to go to college my freshman year, to sending me care packages, cards of encouragement, answering late night texts, moving me in and out of numerous apartments, and driving two hours one way just to visit me for the day, you have been the people I relied on most. Thank you for supporting me and embracing me through all of the challenges, battles, and hurdles I have encountered the past four years. Your positive words of affirmation and encouragement were sometimes the only things that kept me going. Thank you for supporting me when I decided to add a minor midway through my sophomore year, through my desire to study abroad, and complete my degree(s) in four years. I can honestly say I would not be walking across the graduation stage this weekend if it wasn’t for you. Thank you for being with me through the tough times, and celebrating with me through the exciting times as well. You believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you.
There have ultimately been so many people who have came into my life these past four years that I have probably forgotten to mention, so here is a “thank you” all of you. It is such a surreal feeling to think that next fall instead of going to class as the student, I will be going to class as the teacher. This reality would not have been possible without the continual guidance and support from everyone in my life. I also want to say a special “thank you” to my Her Campus Millersville ladies for accepting me and taking me into your organization. I will always remember the crazy stories, late Wednesday meetings, and bonding events we had. I will miss all of you greatly, but I will always remember the memories we made!
HCXO, Kortney
*All images courtesy of Tumblr