And Everyone Else Along the Way
As you all know, Monmouth University hasn’t been my favorite place. Everyone that I’m going to mention here has listened to me whine, complain, and grow excessively bitter with many aspects of this school. People say that college is the best time of your life, but I hope this isn’t true. In my mind, there are many great things to come, and many more years to actually fully enjoy.
In saying that, this is supposed to be a positive article, (see Mom, I’m changing, slowly but surely.) So even though I would never admit it until now, I have had some wonderful times at Monmouth, and I have met many amazing people who have helped shape me into the person I am today. The people that deserve a thank you have seen me laugh, cry, struggle, fall down, and get back up.
They have seen me at my best and at my worst. You all must know that saying thank you isn’t enough, everyone I mention has become a part of my heart and my daily life wouldn’t be what it is if you all weren’t in it. In saying that, these are just some of the people that hold a special place, and will for the rest of my life.
Daddy. There are not enough words in the English language to express how much I love you and appreciate everything you do for me. Thank you for your daily texts, I know Mom thinks it’s because you don’t want to let go, but know that those texts got me through a lot of rough days. Thank you for always checking up on me when you knew I was upset, angry, anxious, sick or stressed. No matter what happened or what kind of trouble I got into, you always found a way to figure it out and calm me down. Thank you for always putting aside your work and busy day to listen to me complain about a professor, ‘friend,’ or a class. I could never repay you for everything you’ve done, not only throughout college, but throughout my whole life.
Mom. Even though we have a different relationship than Dad and I do, there is still not enough ways to say I love you and appreciate you as well. Thank you for keeping me grounded, and being brutally honest, no matter what we were talking about. You got me through so much petty gossip, and drama, and you always know what to say. Thank you for always being near a phone and would wake up even if I have a problem at 3 am. At the same time I appreciate the space you gave me, I know it was hard being the only woman in the house for the last four years, but you’ll now have someone to watch TV with again, for a while at least. Over the past four year I’ve realized how much I’ve turned out like you, and I wouldn’t want to be any other way.
Eric. Thank you will never be enough. You are my other half and one of the only reasons I have made it this far. I truly don’t know what I would do without you, you are the best friend I’ve ever had and I love you more then you will ever know. Thank you for loving me, supporting me, and feeding me for seven out of eight semesters. Thank you for all the ice cream and chocolate runs that I wouldn’t have gotten through some nights without. Thank you for making me laugh and smile on my worst days, you always know how to make everything better. No matter how much I complain, how angry I get, how crazy I make you, or how anxious life makes me, you keep me balanced through it all. Life wouldn’t be the same without all the sandwiches, DDD marathons, or naps. Thank you for putting up with me for the last 3 ½ years, it has been a wild ride and I wouldn’t want to be on it with anyone else.
Michelle. From Laurel to Redwood to Poplar to Neptune, I don’t know why we thought we could live with anyone but each other, because it was pointless and no one understands us but us. Even though through the four years we didn’t always see eye to eye, I have definitely experienced all the best memories with you. I can’t even begin to list all of them, one because there has been so many and two because we would have no friends if people knew all the things we got into, talked about, or all the pasta and potatoes we’ve eaten. Thank you for always being down to lay in bed, eat, and watch DDD, Family Feud, and COPS marathons. Thank you for always knowing what’s going on with me, but ignoring my bad decisions and never asking questions. Thank you for bringing home dogs for us to mentally adopt and adapt to our lazy lifestyle. You really are the only person who understands how I live, and because of that, you have been one of the best roommates and friends I could have ended up with. 
Keri. My actual twin and biological sister, thank you for being at my side since freshman year. Thankfully we live close to each other at home so we never have to separate, because I don’t think we could make it otherwise. Even after we graduate, I know we’ll still be doing arts and crafts and eating pizza and looking at pictures of baby animals. Even though we’re both super busy during the school year, I can always count on you to know everything that’s going on with me and I could text you at any time and complain. Thank you for always supporting everything I do and for always being more excited for things in my life then I am. I can’t wait to live together with our 100 dogs while you do the taxes and I write blog posts about all our pets. I love you and our matching flannels and horrible snap chats forever.
Alyssa. You are the most positive person in my life and I don’t know how I would have made it through all the crazy, difficult, and stressful times without you telling me it’s going to be okay. Thank god we bonded over hating germs on Memorial Day and exchanged numbers or else I wouldn’t have one of the greatest friends I’ve ever met. Thank you for always calming me down, making me feel better about everything, and for understanding me and all my (our) quirks. You always know how to make me laugh at your awkwardness and we can always share our struggles with school, eating, and life. I can confidently say you are one of the greatest people I have ever met and I’m so grateful to have you in my life.
Stephanie. Where have you been all throughout college (or all throughout my life?) I wouldn’t have made it through the school year without you and there would be no point in going to class if we couldn’t look at each other the whole time. We should have known that we were made to be friends when we always shared the same expression over everything. Thank you for always being there to make me laugh and support me, I could text you with any problem and you know how to handle it. You are so inspiring and I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished this year. Thank you for being such an amazing best friend and understanding everything about me like not too many other people do.
Professor Sanford. Thank you for believing in me, without you, I wouldn’t have made it through freshman year. You were one of the only people who made me believe I wasn’t a failure, that we all need to find our strides, and thanks to you, I did. I fully give you credit for getting me out of the hole I put myself into and I’m so happy that I ended up making you proud. Thank you for always keeping me on track, explaining all things school-related, and for making amazing schedules that kept me out of 8:30s. I have accomplished what I have because you pushed me and helped me grow four long years ago. There isn’t enough thank you’s in the world.
The Outlook Fam. Every single one of you are my rays of sunshine and the only good thing about Mondays (and Tuesdays.) I’m #blessed to have been able to work with such amazing people, thank you all for laughing at my stories and listening to my rants and raves and letting me be stressed out and curse and yell at everyone. I’m so gladI have a group of people that I could be so dysfunctional around. I’ll miss you all so much; I don’t know how I’m going to work with anyone else in any other newsroom. For those of you graduating, I wish you the best of luck and I know you will all accomplish so much in your jobs and in your life. To those of you not graduating, I expect the sass and sarcasm to still run rapid throughout the room and I know you guys are going to kill it. I’ll be back to visit, maybe. But really, ily all (I love you really is too overused.)
A special shout out to Erin, I wouldn’t want to leave the section that I mothered over the last year to anyone else. I know you’re going to make me proud, and whenever you are killing it in NYC hit me up and we’ll jam out to the oldies (aka the Dad station) and bond over literally everything ever.
Starbucks on Rt. 35 in Oakhurst, thank you for fueling my body with so much passion tea lemonade that it runs in my veins. You have helped me through college. Antonio’s, Gianni’s, Scala’s, Brennan’s, Frank’s Deli, The Hungry Hobo, Broad Street Dough Co., thank you for feeding me for the past four years, without you I would be malnourished and even more bitter.
To everyone else, to all the people I’ve met and bonded with and shared laughs and stresses with through these past four years, thank you. You have helped make this experience worthwhile for me, even during the simplest of times. I appreciate so many people for so many reasons; there isn’t enough time or paper to write all the thank you’s that are in order. To all of my friends and acquaintances, both in the past and the present, you have made me who I am today. I have changed and learned and grown because of all of you.
Everyone I’ve met here has made these last four years times that I will never, ever forget. Thank you all for being apart of this major part of my life, it has been crazy and amazing and beautiful and terrible and stressful all in one. But looking back, there are so many moments that I will hold onto forever, that I wish I could replay every day. As I make the first leaps, bounds, and stumbles into my adult life, know that I will never forget any of you. Thank you.
