Graduation is a little less than two months and it’s starting to sink in. I’m beginning to freak out slightly. Here’s the deal:

• Yes, I’m excited
• Yes, I’m nervous
• Yes, I’m sad
• Yes, I’m happy
• And everything else
• And then some.

I can’t believe my time at Samford is coming to a close. I feel like I just got here. I’m still not sure where the last four years have gone. I’m so incredibly thankful for my time here though. I’m thankful for some incredible friends, awesome professors, and one organization that the Lord has used over and over.

There are so many people who I’ve met over the past four years that I love but there are a few I don’t know what I’d do without. They truly are some of my best friends and people that I hope I will be friends with for life.

Jackie and I met over Facebook before coming to Samford and during connections she came down to my room. We become instant friends because we had class together and had lunch together everyday. We started to do things together all time and quickly became best friends. We decided to room together sophomore year and then again junior year. I don’t know what I’d do without this crazy, quirky girl in my life. Jackie and I have so many fun memories and my Samford experience WOULD NOT be with same with her.

Jacks, thanks for being the best friend a girl could ask for. I love you to the moon and back.

Katherine and I met, well technically, Katherine and I met on the Orlando trip freshmen year but we really got to be friends because we were in the same family group at Passion 2010. Our friendship grew over the next three years and we even got to experience Europe together last JanTerm. Katherine is someone I love with all my heart and I’m thankful she’s only in Auburn.

Rachel and I met during Step Sing my freshmen year, her sophomore year. I can’t begin to tell you all the ways that the Lord has used this girl the past three years. Rachel is quite the prayer warrior and I always know that I can count on her to cover something in prayer. I’m so thankful to be able to call her friend. I can’t believe she’s getting married in June.

Melissa and I meet at the first shiloh of the year when I was a sophomore and she was freshmen. I’m so thankful I struck up a conversation with her because I would have missed out on one of the biggest blessings of my Samford experience. Melissa is such a light and is always there for me, she such a great friend and I can’t wait to crash with her when I come back to visit next year. Melissa is someone who I trust with my life and someone who the Lord has used to speak to me and teach me things over the past three years.

Little, I’m so blessed to be able to call you that. Thanks for always being you. I love you so much!

Natalie and I met because she was rooming with my friend Chelsee her freshmen year, my sophomore year. The more time I spent in their room, the more I came to love this precious girl. I decided to pick a little and she was the obvious choice. Natalie is fun-loving, concert going girl and we are going to see T-Swift in a few weeks and I’m so excited. I’m so thankful to have this sweet girl in my life, she has definitely helped shape my Samford career. Natalie is a constant encouragement and always has a smile on her face. I’m thankful to be able to call her friend.

Natalie, I’m so glad that the Lord has placed you in my life. I love you so very much!

Hannah and I met during Step Sing sophomore year. I’m so thankful that she decided to UM her freshman year because I don’t know what I’d do without this girl in my life. Hannah is one of the best friends I could have asked for and is the definition of a true friend. She is a constant encouragement and is always there for me, I know I can always count on her. The Lord has used Hannah in some powerful ways over the course of the last couple years with everything that has gone on with my brother and just in some areas in my own life.

Hannah, I don’t think you’ll ever really know how true that last sentence is. I don’t know what I would do without you. I love you.

Morgan and I met because she was in my foundations class my junior year, her freshmen year. I’m so thankful that the Lord placed her in my life. She is such an encouragement and someone else the Lord had used in several ways. She has such a great heart and I know the Lord has awesome plans for her. I can’t wait to see them all unfold over the coming years.

Morgan, I’m so blessed to have you in my life. I love you so very much!

Rainbow and I met because we were suitemates junior year. It’s hard to believe that two years ago I didn’t even know her. Rainbow and I had an instant connection and are basically the same person. We bonded over movies, especially when we decided to see Footloose at 8 on school night. When I decided to move off-campus, we decided to live together. I am so thankful for her, we have many conversations about ministry and plans for the future. God has used her to show me things and teach me all types of things over the past year.

Rainbow, Thanks for being such a great friend and roommate. I can’t wait to see what God has in store. I love you!

Mary Katherine and I met because she’s Melissa’s little. She is super sweet and always brightens my day. I’m so thankful to be able to call her my grandlittle. She is someone who I never expected to get to know even though we didn’t officially meet until like November last year, she is one of the people who have left their mark on my Samford Career. Love you so much, Mary Katherine!

Samantha and I met through Jackie and JMC, actually how we met was that I invited her to lunch after a preview day last semester and we haven’t looked back. She was such an unexpected blessing and I loved getting to spend Wednesdays with her last semester. She has been my editor and someone I’m thankful to call friend.

Samantha, enjoy the rest of your Samford career and soak it all in. IT FLYS BY, way too fast.

These are just a few but my list could go on and on there are so many people who have made my Samford career what it is. I’m so thankful for each and everyone of them. Thank you so much and I’m so thankful to be able to call you friend.

My friends have marked by Samford career and I’m also thankful for professors who have helped me over the past four years, especially Dr. Ankney and Dr. Tew. They have been there for me and helped in and outside class my whole Samford career.

I’ve been involved two things throughout my Samford career: JMC and Howard College Ambassadors and University Ministries. They have made what Samford Career what is it. I’ve met with probably 50 prospective JMC students in my Samford career and I love it. It’s a chance for me to get talk about my school and give a chance to ask anything they want to know about Samford and get an honest answer. I got to participate in Howard College Ambassadors from the beginning and had the extreme honor of being named Howard College Ambassador of the year last year, definitely one of the proudest moments of my Samford career.

University Ministries is the place where I have found my place on Samford’s campus and I’m extremely thankful. I love Shiloh and words cannot begin to describe how much I will miss it, considering I’ve only missed two, yes, two Shiloh’s in four years. I have blessed to be a part of UM for the past four years (for more info on that check here and here). I’ve had the awesome opportunity to serve on Communications committee last two years and am thankful to be able to give back to the organization that has blessed me so much.

I can’t believe I’m six weeks from being done with college and leaving Samford. I’m not ok with it but I am at the same time. I’m so incredibly thankful for the mark this place has left on me and will be proud to call Samford my alma mater.

A BIG GIANT THANK YOU to all my wonderful friends without who my Samford experience would not be the same. I’m so incredibly thankful and blessed by you.