Well first of all, I think that I should address the fact that so many of my friends are graduating today! I can't believe that about half of my good friends are graduating today and moving on to bigger and better things. They all seem to be staying around the area though, which is good. It feels weird that I'm not going to be able to see them whenever I want. I picked a kind of bad semester to study abroad because it seems like most of my friends are graduating and then one moved to Wyoming to work at Yellow Stone National Park so I don't know when I'll be seeing her next. I also have a friend who's going to be leaving for an internship in Florida next semester as well, so it just seems like everyone is leaving. Good thing I still have some friends left; and most importantly my roommates.
The first shout-out goes to one of my best friends since sophomore year, Jesse. This picture is the only recent picture I could find since she never posts any. I still remember the first day we met like it was yesterday! I don't think I could have gotten through high school without you! And you have made my college experience that much better. I still remember that day I went to take the placement exams and you let me sleep on your floor. That was pretty fun. I enjoyed getting to see a little bit of what college is like. Thank you so much for being my little mentor on how to survive college. There are so many memories that I have of us chilling in your apartment, or walking on the trails. I'm going to miss the random Hill Top runs and talking for hours about anything and everything. We really need to skype soon because I miss your face so much! And when I get back the first thing I want from you is a giant hug! I seriously |
don't know what I am going to do without you next year! I am going to have to visit! And I expect some more walks on the trails as well! It's so weird sitting here and realizing that I have now seen you graduate your second and possibly last time. I wish you all the best as you embark on this new journey in your life and I hope you find an awesome job that you love! And as soon as I get home we are grabbing a cup of coffee and talking until we have nothing else to say because that hasn't happened in over 4 months, which isn't cool. I love you so much and I can't wait to see you again! I hope you have a wonderful day and I cannot say enough how proud I am of you!
Next shout-out goes to my friend Derek, who also doesn't post any pictures to Facebook. It's so weird to see you graduate this year since I'm actually older than you! I still remember the summer before going to college and you adding me on Facebook because you saw that we were in the same orientation group. I still don't know why you decided that a good first topic to talk about was your ripped off finger. But you were my first college friend that wasn't from my high school. And yes I'm still sorry that I never talked to you that first, and only, day of orientation. I feel like that day was still kind of pointless. It's going to be so weird not playing volleyball with you, or chilling at your apartment late at night |
and texting you once I made it back to my apartment. I guess we'll just have to continue hanging out with your roommates so you have no other choice but to come and visit. We'll have to grab some coffee or something. I'm still probably going to have you look over my essays though. That's what you get for graduating as an English major. But I'm really going to miss you. It definitely won't be the same without you next semester! I hope you find a wonderful job that you love as well, and you can warn me about how scary real adult life can be. Miss you bud!
Next up is my hoop-bestie Sarah. I know we have only known each other for about a year and a half now, but you have become one of my closest friends. I still remember the first real day that we bonded over my break up. I'm also sorry for taking up like 3 hours of your time when you were supposed to be doing interviews with residents. I really like to talk, as you have found out! But who am I supposed to stay up with till 2 in the morning talking about everything while lying on the floor and playing with a hula hoop?? I'm going to miss all of the times that we went for walks, the flow sessions, and having only you at my hoop classes. And who else is going to take me to Minnesota with them when I need a mini vacation? I'm really glad that you're staying in the area though. I am going to visit you quite a bit! And I can't wait to see your new apartment! And of course meet your new man I've heard and seen so much about! We'll definitely have to grab coffee and have a hoop sesh once I get back! I love you and miss you so |
much! I'm sorry for leaving you during your last semester but I should be there for you when you graduate from grad-school! And hopefully soon you can finally get that corgi that you've always wanted and I can come over and play with it all the time. Oh and I can tell all of my family that you have now graduated from college; since you know, you just graduated from high school last semester ha-ha. I love you so much girl and I am counting down the days until I'm back! And don't forget to keep sending me snapchats of today! I'm enjoying them.
And I can't forget about Christy. You again, are someone that has kept me sane. What am I going to do next semester without your perfect hugs or crying bear? You always knew what to say when I needed someone to talk to, and even if you didn't, you were there to just listen to me. You are one of the most interesting people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. The way you see life is absolutely beautiful. I genuinely think that you can change the world someday. |
I love having deep conversations with you because I always learn so much. You are an incredibly intelligent person and I really enjoy that about you. I also appreciate that you love nature as much as I do, and I'm going to miss our walks together. We are going to have to figure out ways to hang out as well because I don't think I'm going to be able to go without seeing your face for much longer! I have missed you so much this semester as well, and I think that we should skype soon as well. I wish you all the luck as you embark on this new journey in your life as well. I miss you so much!
Next is Kelsey, who was roommates with Jesse and Christy. I'm glad that I got to live across the hall from you because I don't know if I would have ever gotten the courage to finally go to the hula hooping class all the time if you didn't go with me. Thank you for that. And thank you for all of the nights that we practiced really late at night. I really miss those days. It's so crazy to look back on how far we have come. It's also crazy thinking about hooping with our big, bulky hoops. And I know we haven't been in touch that much since I've been in Puerto Rico, but I'll always remember everything you've done for me. I wish you all the best as well. You've finally done it! And if you're ever in the Green Bay area, and you want to get together and have a hoop sesh, just shoot me a text and I am so down! Good luck as you become a "real" adult! |
And the final roommate to graduate is Brooke. She was also roommates with Jesse, Christy and Kelsey. She also went to high school with me. I know we didn't talk all that much, but you also helped me to get through a lot. I also have a lot of memories from last year of us all just hanging out in your apartment. It's going to be so weird that I can't do that anymore. But congratulations on finally graduating! I wish you all the best as you too, embark on a new chapter in your life. I hope you find a wonderful job that you love as well. And if you're ever in the neighborhood and want to grab coffee as well, just text me and we can do something. Again, congratulations on accomplishing graduating college! |
Now this lovely lady isn't graduating this semester, but she did move on to bigger and better things. I can't believe you are finally getting to cure some of that wanderlust! I am so jealous of you! I know you've been itching to get out of Wisconsin and do something. And I am so proud of you for finally doing it and following your heart. I'm still sad that the Hoop Troop is dwindling, but you will forever be there in our hearts! I really hope that one day our paths can cross again someday. I also expect to see a bunch of pictures, and get some phone calls from you sometimes so that you can catch me up on how things are in Yellow Stone. I still can't believe that we met each other on Instagram |
less than a year ago. And who knew we would be where we are today! I am going to miss all of the photo shoots, long talks, hoop sessions, and long talks about our love/hate relationship with boys. I wish you all the luck and I can't wait to see what the rest of life brings you. We'll have to keep in touch about our journeys with Wicca as well because you are the only other Wiccan I know back in the states. It's crazy how much alike we are though! And because of that, I know that you are going to have an amazing time traveling. We'll have to send each other letters and stuff! So don't forget to send me your address! Love you and I continue to miss you every day!
And last, but not least, we have Emily who will actually be returning after her Disney internship in Florida. But I still feel like I need to acknowledge that you are going to accomplish a very important step in your life. I can't wait until I get back and we can flow together again; even if it is just a few weeks. I have missed the random hoop days and adventures that we went on. And I know that you will have many great adventures in Florida living out your dream. I am so happy |
for you girl! Make sure to keep in touch! But I know that I will at least get to see you a couple times before you leave. It's going to be weird not seeing your smiling face in the crowd of people at school next semester. Although I'm sure it was weird not seeing me as well! You will have to keep me posted on everything that happens with you!
Again, a huge congratulations to the graduating class of 2015! I am so proud of you all and I will miss seeing your faces every day!
XOXO
Ericka
XOXO
Ericka