It's Almost Time for Graduation

I cannot believe that almost five years ago, I left home to start my time at The University of Alabama.  Honestly, that feels like a lifetime ago. The journey I have taken since then has been at times long and treacherous but also fulfilling and life-giving. As I know these next few weeks will be fraught with tons of last minute hang out sessions with my friends and some late night study sessions as I prepare for my last round of finals as an undergraduate, I wanted to update this now (even though I rarely ever do) with some thank yous to the people that have made these five years the best of my life before I start on this rollercoaster that hopefully slows down after graduation is over.

To my parents: Even though we have been through our share of tough times and heartache, the hardest thing I have ever done was leave home to go off to college thousands of miles away from you. And, although it was hard and you both thought I had made the wrong decision in choosing Alabama at the time, I can honestly say that that choice has been one of the most rewarding choices I have ever made. Somehow, at the age of 17, I was able to stand firm in this decision I had made, knowing that it was right despite everything else that was telling me it wasn't, and I can only attribute that steadfastness and strength to the both of you. Thank you for being there whenever I needed someone to listen and talk to, whether it was for something serious, like when I had a car accident freshman year or needed semi-emergent surgery sophomore year, or for something not as serious, like when I just missed home or felt that I needed to hear your voice. I could not have completed this journey without your continued love and support.

To my sister: Everyone knows that we have had our shares of ups and downs throughout our lives, and while I sometimes joke that the day you were born was the worst of my life (I really am only kidding!), that could not be farther from the truth. Living with you for a year of my college experience, while sometimes a complete disaster, was also something I will treasure. I sometimes miss being able to walk just a few steps just to be able to talk to you about anything and everything. Both of us are about to embark on some new journeys, and my only hope is that we will always be close no matter how caught up we get in our lives later on.

To my friends: I never expected to come to UA and at the end of my time here feel like I was leaving my family all over again upon graduating, but that’s exactly how it feels because all of you have become like family to me. I have met and become friends with so many incredible people since I moved here, and all of these friendships are ones that I will treasure. It feels strange knowing that in a few short weeks, we will no longer all live in the same place and be doing the same things together as we have been doing for years. I can’t say that I’m not excited for the journeys that we will all be taking, though, and I know that each one of us is destined for great success in the future. Saying goodbye is always hard, though, even if it is just goodbye for now and not forever. Thank you for the fun times we've had and the memories we have here. I'm hopeful there will be many more to come!

To my professors and mentors: Thank you for continually pushing me to be better and strive for more than what I ever thought I could achieve. When I came to college, I never expected to go through the hard times that I did academically. Many of you were there throughout all of these times, cheering me on and making sure that I was prepared for each step that I would be taking next. For my history professors, far more than any of the others, thank you for being the best group of teachers I have ever had the pleasure of studying under. Switching to be a history major was the best possible decision I could have ever made about what I would study, and it is in part due to many of you that I am able to say that with so much confidence. The history department and ten Hoor have become like a second home to me, and I will treasure the time that I have spent learning and growing there over these past few years.

Thank you to all of you for being a part of my collegiate journey!

Love,
Steph