Dear Millersville,
I can remember the very first day I came to visit you on a gorgeous fall day. The sun was shining, the trees were a perfect color (still green but beginning to change to yellow and orange) and it was warm for October. I remember I loved everything about you, even though I didn’t even know you. All I knew was that you had accepted me already and one look had me hooked. I think I had my dad send my deposit for my dorm when we got home. I had heard such great things about you, Millersville, but I still didn’t know. Would we work out? Would I fit in with the other Marauders? I was unsure, but I was ready to start our college relationship the very first day I arrived for Freshmen Orientation. Sure I cried like a baby when my parents left me (mind you, those two left me in the McComsey parking lot not knowing they were supposed to at the football stadium, but I’ve grown to accept these two humans that created me). But let me tell you, as soon as I sat down in the bleachers with my green Millersville University t-shirt, bow headband, and oversized sunglasses and saw those OLs do the “Cupid Shuffle,” you bet your arse I was ready to start college.
Now as May 12th (graduation, duh) quickly approaches, I can’t even imagine what it will be like to leave you. I’ve had mini breakdowns the past two weeks thinking of what it will be like once my time with you is over. I know I am supposed to say its bitter sweet and such, but I’m freaking out and with this letter I will tell you everything I have grown to love about you and what I will miss terribly. Now there are too many things to name that have happened in my four years at the Ville, but there are some things I will always keep with me.
Freshman Orientation
Now, I know some people may think orientation was the dumbest thing or worst experience they ever had (due to the early rising hours or constant icebreakers), but I had the best group ever. I remember meeting everyone on the turf at Biemesderfer and naturally introducing myself to my group members. As a freshman I was on another level of friendly, and immediately made friends. Let’s see, I would seriously volunteer for everything involving acting (I think I got to slap a group member during a sexual harassment skit), I had meals with my group every day and even well into the school year, and I even did my Smeagol/Gollum impression when we had alcohol day. There was nothing holding back from you, Millersville. I was a tad bit of a good girl and went to EVERYTHING, unlike my current roommate who went to nothing, but I still accepted her. Then the best thing that came out of Freshman Orientation was my love for you and two of my dearest friends, Bridget and Jamie. I seriously have had a coffee date with Bridget every week since Orientation, and have meals with Jamie as much as possible. Because of your Freshman Orientation I was given an opportunity to show who I am and also gain friendships I’ll hopefully always have.
The People
I seriously don’t know if there is some sort of weird “LOST” destiny thing going on with you Millersville and you brought people into my life because of it, but lately I am starting to think so as I look back on my four years with you. For instance, my best friend, Jenna, is someone I will always have because I always left my door open in Hull Hall. She would always make herself at home perched on my bed, and still in our house in Wellness she does the same. She’s the person that gets me, laughs at my nonsense, and tries to tell me when to not do something even though I usually do it. I have no idea what I’m going to when I won’t be able to see her every morning and night, but I’ll figure that out somehow. Now sorry there are others of you that I will miss terribly as well. My COMM family who I will get to later, my HoPi loves, my post office lady, the professors, especially Dr. Lisa Schreiber, my babies, and those of you that I have christened with nicknames but may or may not know about. All in all, I will forever be thankful for all of these wonderful people I have met. However I will not miss those who believe they have to complain about you like they have nothing better to do, they can transfer, again.
HoPi & Sugar Bowl
Holy sweet mother Millersville, I have never loved two establishments as much as I love HoPi and Sugar Bowl. I love Sugs, that’s what I call it, so much it has hearts around it and most of the time when I call for delivery I am pretty certain the guy answering knows my voice. I will love your pepperoni pizza and cheese waffle fries until you go out of business, hell I will keep you in business and buy Sugs for everyone. I love you Sugs, always have and always will. Then there is HoPi, oh my sweet, remodeled HoPi. I was rather shocked by your remodel, mind you there used to be a time your bathroom had a stall so tiny even nuggets would find it a tight fit in there, and not to mention a spring on that stall door that resulted in black and blue mark on my friends face. But HoPi you are always there for when you need a pee stop on your way home from a party, or when you need a slice of pizza that only tastes gourmet when you are extremely intoxicated, or just to get a few 40s when you don’t feel like buying a case. Then, HoPi as if you couldn’t do any better, you got karaoke on Thursday nights. I have sung so many nonsense songs and had such good nights there it is hard to imagine life without HoPi Thursdays.
My COMM Family
I became a Communication major my sophomore year and I can honestly say it was the best decision I ever made. I finally found people who loved talking as much as I did, who weren’t afraid to be themselves, and share their lives with each other. I found my own little family within my major. Some of my former family members have graduated, but being with other people who I can talk to daily about anything was one of the best things I’ve found here. I have friends that I can be a complete ass with and they know that that’s just how I am. I found who I was within this family who usually can’t shut up, are horrible with math, and think procrastination is a part of our daily curriculum. I mean I basically see the same people every day of the week and I can honestly say the ones in my COMM family are the ones I never get annoyed with and have the utmost respect for. I am ridiculously jealous of those of you who still have time here with Millersville, live it up and do everything to make your college experience here glorious.
I Won’t Miss
I will not miss writing papers, transfer students who bitch about Millersville and life in general, and taking tests. That is all, Millersville.
As I was writing this letter to you Millersville, I can admit I was crying at multiple times, because you are such a big part of me. You made me who I am, and have provided a lot for who I will be in the future. I hope you know you are wonderful and that even if we say we can’t wait to get out of here, it’ll hit us all at different times. Come August we’ll be homesick for George Street, parties in Wellness and Brookwood, Thursday nights at HoPi, and for those people we sat next to in class every day. This was not that funny of a letter, but it’s shocking to know I can be a relatively serious person. Especially when it come to you, my one and only Marauder.
So long for now,
Kait Cramer