Dear Tulane,
Since move-in day you’ve welcomed me with open arms, becoming my home for the past four years. From the first time I ever stepped foot on your campus until this very day you’ve never ceased to amaze me. You’ve helped me grow more than I ever knew I could. You greeted me in the strangest way, with a hurrication to begin our years together, and made my class struggle for a solid week – your own version of a proper welcome to college. But I learned you were simply forcing us to meet each other, bonding with each other before we had a chance to bond with you and showing us what we were in for in the years to come in this crazy city.
When we first met I didn’t know what it meant to be on my own. I’ll admit, I struggled sometimes, but you were always there to help me get back on my feet. I was faced with that strange feeling of complete helplessness so many times, usually when there was a task I had never done without my parents before, but you always had a solution. Whether it was my R.A. stepping in to take place of mom for the moment or my new friends learning along with me, you always had a resource for me to use. I won’t ever forget strolling through your campus on those perfect afternoons, sun shining bright, thinking how lucky I was to have discovered you. Even on those not so perfect days when I got caught in horrible monsoons, every inch of me soaked by the time I got home, there was nothing else to do but laugh. You picked an interesting city with some interesting weather to plant your roots, I’ll give you that.
We had our rough patches, but that’s normal. You always had to be difficult when it was time to register for classes or pick on-campus housing each year. And despite the warm temperatures outside, you always made us freeze during class, no matter which of your buildings we were in. Fortunately, I’m willing to overlook your flaws because you made it up to me in so many other ways.
From your prime location in a city full of culture and festivities to every single thing you’ve given me these past four years, I could not be more thankful to have grown so much with you. You’ve given me some of my best friends. You’ve given me some of my greatest memories. You’ve given me nothing short of perfection for four years, and I have no idea how I’ll be able to say goodbye in a few short weeks. You’ll always have a piece of my heart, and I’ll always be a proud alumna.
Love always,
Emily