I feel like my last few columns have reflected mostly about all of the chapters that are ending as well as what new doors will be opening up soon. I couldn’t have gotten through college and being a student athlete with the support of my friends and family, so this is for you.

For the friends I have made in college. You will never understand how grateful I am for meeting amazing people such as you. Considering I only went to school 45 minutes away from my home, I didn’t expect a majority of my college friends to be from the west coast.  Having visiting California a few times, I still can’t wrap my head around why they would leave such a warm weather state to come to snowy Westchester. Thank you for showing me that long distance friendships can be such a great thing. We now will always have a reason to go on vacation, whether you guys come to New York, I fly to the west coast, or we meet somewhere completely different. Our adventures will never be boring.

To my team. You guys have really seen me on my best days and my worst days. Our team may not have won all the time, but I know each one of you always played your heart out and I appreciate that more you realize.  I want to thank you all for talking me into giving my shoulder a break when you saw I was clearly in pain but blinded by stupidity. You understood my love for the game, but also needed to be my voice of reason when I clearly wasn’t doing it for myself. Being a collegiate athlete will bond you no matter what, with the long bus rides, six AM lift, morning practices, etc.  If these things don’t form some type of bond, I don’t know what will!

My roommates. You guys probably had it the toughest, so for that I owe you a big thank you. From hearing me complain about my injuries, to blasting show tunes at you and making you listen against your will, or my daily tackle when I feel like you need it because you are being too serious. Thank you for making do my homework when I couldn’t procrastinate anymore, or telling me to go to class when all I wanted to do was lay in bed and binge watch a new show. Some of my best memories are cooking dinner or figuring a way to get Ray the raccoon to stop living on our porch. Even though Ray has only been our new “roommate” for the last week I love being too scared to leave my room, worrying that he will be inside the apartment eating our food in the kitchen. It won’t be the same living without you guys next year, but I want to thank you for all the memories we shared in that apartment.

To my friends from home. I want to thank you for sticking by my side and helping me grow up. You guys will always have the memories of me in my awkward stage, and let’s be honest, that lasted way longer than it ever should have. Thanks for helping to shape me into the person I am today, and teaching me the true importance of friendship. I didn’t realize how rare my friendships from home were, and that being friends with the same people from when you are in elementary school isn’t a normal thing until I left for college. I also didn’t know people had middle school? I thought everyone was shoved into a small building from the age of 12-18. Nope, that was just us, and I guess that’s part of what makes us special.

Last but not least, I want to thank my mom, dad and sister. Sam, thank you for being my partner in crime, twin and best friend. I don’t think I tell you enough how thankful I am to have a sister like you. I probably don’t tell you too often because it will go right to your head, but apparently not everyone is as close to their siblings as we are, and I feel sorry for them. No matter what is happening, I know I can Facetime with you and talk for hours. Without you, I wouldn’t have anyone to quote movies with, because no one knows the weird one liners from every movie like we do. Thank for being you and making me who I am today.

Mom and Dad, I first want to start off by saying if writing this and posting it for everyone to see doesn’t make the favorite child, it’s a lost cause and I will no longer try to fight for it. Thank you for supporting me in everything I do. Whether it was playing a sport or starting a new job, I knew I could always call you and talk me off the ledge. Mom, I don’t think you will ever understand how much it meant to me seeing you at every sports game I played. Whether it was a soccer game in freezing cold rain or a 12-hour long volleyball tournament, you were there at every one cheering me on. I’ve had friends who told me their parents never come to their games, and I always  think how lucky I am to have such supportive parents. Dad, I get my competitiveness from you. Without you showing me the meaning of dedication, or showing me how to push through something hard, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I could go on and on about how much you both mean to me, but then this column would be ten pages long.

Thank you to everyone who has had an impact on my life and for the people in the future who are going to continue to shape the person I will become.