The valedictorian of my high school graduating class is a pretty bright guy. This is a weird way to start a post about college, but hang on. This guy once said something that struck me to the core. It wasn't in his speech on graduation night; it was actually in something he posted on Facebook awhile ago, regarding friends. And ever since I read it I cannot get it out of my head. I can't. It was just so, so accurate and I felt like it completely encompassed everything I learned and everyone I met during this past year, my sophomore year at BYU. I had the best group of friends this year. The. best. They are amazing and I hold them all in such high esteem. I have so much respect and gratitude for the people who took the time to get to know me and become the close friends I call them now.
If there was one thing I learned during the past two semesters, it's that my Heavenly Father knows. He knows everything. He knew what I needed to learn at this point in my life. He knew my strengths and what I had to give. He knew the people I needed, and the people who needed me. And then, he plopped me right in the middle of those people. Best ward, best roommates, best apartment complex, which all resulted in the best, best, best friends. My words feel puny compared to how I feel about everything that happened this year when I say I am so grateful, but, that's the limitation of words. Anyway, this is what my valedictorian buddy said:
"You know, some people are put on this earth to build you up.
You can feel it, every time you're with them, that all they want for you is good things.
Good things, success, and happiness.
These people are the people who will lift you to who you are supposed to be.
Don't you ever,
ever,
let them go."
These people lifted me higher, loved me for who I was, and helped me get closer to who I'm supposed to be. Yeah I know I can't keep all of these people in my life forever. People move wards, go on Study Abroads, go on missions, get married. But I'll always have the things they taught me. I can keep the lessons and the memories forever, and no amount of distance or time can take them. Leaving Provo this year was hard. Oh man. I couldn't help but sit there in the middle seat of our van as we got on I-15 and cry as I realized things would never be the same like that again. But my dad turned to me and said one of his favorite quotes from good ol' Doc Suess: "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." I can definitely do that. I miss my friends so much. I miss Provo. But I have a noggin full of some of the happiest, funniest, most comforting memories to keep me content for a lifetime, plus some friendships that I'll never forget. Summer is here and I get to spend it with the best family on the face of the planet. And in four months, I go right back to the Happy Valley. I may or may not be counting down the days...
As far as I'm concerned, I'm one lucky, lucky girl.
