a love letter to UGA (and the best friends)

Dear University of Georgia & the best friends,

I will never be able to thank you enough. The best decision I ever made came from a gut feeling I knew I had to trust. I had been upset at waitlisted colleges, and went on my last rounds of college visits hoping for a miracle. A miracle, indeed. They always say “when you know you know”, and I never got that feeling until UGA. I walked around and visited the stadium. I looked inside and it just hit me like a life altering force. I felt that gut feeling. Something about Athens felt safe while everything around me at the time was horrifyingly hard to grasp. From that day on, I was committed to Georgia.

Today, as a new alumni (I am not used to saying that), I have best friends of whom I cannot thank enough, memories that overflow my heart and an academic experience that supports me in knowing I am prepared for the life ahead.

While there are hundreds of classmates, friends, professors & families to thank I would like to name a few of the people that changed my life these past 4 years.

Keely - My first friend at UGA. We met on our academic tour, almost became roommates, & then randomly had class together the very first day freshman year. You push me every day to be the best version of myself and support me through every decision and phase of life. We traveled to Croatia and France together & study abroad was possible because you were by my side. We are the true definition of the butterfly effect and I am so excited for our life together as roommates in Boston!

Eva - I am grateful I trusted another gut feeling and we decided to live with each other freshman year. A friend and roommate that was patient, understanding, and relentlessly there for me. That little shoebox dorm became one of my favorite places because of you. I’ll appreciate you more than you’ll ever know and you played such a large part in adjusting to school. My secrets were always safe with you, you were always there to go somewhere with me, and we were honest with each other about everything -- outfits, boys, classes, recruitment, friendships. I wouldn't trade you for the world.

Ella - The sweetest soul that ever graced my life. I will never forget the first night before classes began, I was on the brink of tears so scared to walk to class in the morning. We chatted a little before bed and found out we had the exact same spanish class in the morning. Over the next four years we took three spanish classes, an entrepreneurship certificate, had countless Panera study dates, did hometown visits and were with each other at every major milestone. Another butterfly effect if you ask me - Brumby 726 and 727 was complete fate and I am grateful every day to have you in my life. You’re the type of friend everyone needs. Someone that knows your coffee order and pulls up on the side of the road to give it to you on the way to an exam. (Yes, she really did that). I love you!

Pyramid Girls (Harper, Brynn, Sage & Chrissy) — I don’t think there is a world that exists where I won’t tell the story of the coyote incident haha. But, that describes us. Every adventure we went on was special, and every time we hung out we’d laugh until our stomachs cramped. You girls were another saving grace freshman year. I love each of you so dearly and cherish our memories.

My big & my little — I miss you both dearly. Ryanne, you were there for me from the day we met, and I knew you were meant to be my big. Any call, question, concern, or cry was met with support and love. You are the older sister I never had. Even yesterday when I was crying so hard about post-grad, you were the first person I texted to ask for advice. Your care, love and honesty is something I admire about you and I will never forget. Emily, we were destined to meet! From day one, I knew you were meant to be my little and I am so grateful you are. You never fail to make me laugh and this past semester without you in Athens was so difficult. I literally feel like a proud mom watching all you have accomplished and will continue to do. A friend that you can share anything with, and never feel judged is so special. We really needed each other. I am so grateful for GPHI leading me to you both and I have so much love for you girls and our fam.

Maisie — You are another roommate that changed my life and a gut feeling I am blessed to have listened to. Deciding to live together in the sorority house and hardly knowing each other to becoming sisters did not take long. Every beautiful, special, funny moment from college has you in it. Seriously, too many to name. There is nobody else that I could’ve shared a bunk bed with for nine months. Especially someone that could’ve put up with my snoring. You have an ability to turn every bad day into a good one, and always know exactly what to tell me. You always felt like home. Most likely because we did hometown visits (my first time in Kansas), and have gone on so many trips together. I am very grateful we won’t be moving too far from each other, I am not ready to leave you yet.

GPHI House Girls (A-Team) — I wish so badly I could close my eyes and we were still running around the house playing games and having fun during move-out week sophomore year. We were so unbelievably sad all while having so much fun. If only we knew how bad moving out for real would be. I loved living with all fifty of you and I am blessed that I did because it allowed me love you all. I am really glad we all made the same decision during recruitment, and promise me alumni weekends will go insane. Gphi til I die!

Talia — A special, pivotal friend the came from inside the GPHI house. Whether we were on the futon watching our millionth movie of the year, or in the corner of a bar booth I know I can count on you to make me laugh until I can't breathe. You have the special power of a friend that never makes you feel alone. My partner in crime on our term of GPHI exec, the PR girl to my date night chair in every lifetime. I will always be grateful that we had each other during exec and we lived in the house sophomore year. I have to mention how especially grateful I am that we roomed together in NOLA lol. You never fail to impress me and I am so proud of you.

The Croats — Who else gets to live in Croatia for a month?! Thank goodness we did! A transformative experience that will never be replicated. You girls powered me through the weird adjustment of studying abroad, and the horrifying stomach issues I had lol. Memories from the mayonnaise spray in Hvar, to Rob from Boulder, the mannequin at dinner, Good Food meltdown, and Split Jesus party boat play in my head from time to time and make me laugh so much. Every single thing in Croatia was seriously awesome. The people we met, the places we went, and the life we explored was a pivotal moment in my life and development while at UGA. I cannot love y'all more and I am so glad we have kept in great touch the past 2 years. I am also happy to report I found my Croatia journal that was missing and I will laugh and cry reading about our adventures later.

205 — I seriously think I am going to be sick writing this. I love all four of you more than I can seriously put into words. First, Taylor & Kelsie. There is no college without both you girls. You found me at the lowest point freshman year and never left my side since. You are both the definition of loyalty, strength & love. There for me at any minute, and with me for the rest of my life. When you moved out of the apartment this year, the apartment felt the loss so deeply. Thank goodness we still see each other all the time & I know we will keep in touch because I can’t go more than an hour without texting you or sending you a TikTok. Bingo for life. Karly & Carlie, my longest roommates of college and my best friends. We seriously worked together so well. I wouldn’t trade any Fortnite couch rot, TV binge (Big Brother), roomie dinner, or storytelling from class or our ridiculous hometown lore, and any other moment with either of you. Karly, we met the very first week of freshman year and I have said it before and I will say it again - it is always the duo that makes it out of the once failed trio! You and I stuck together from the very start of college. Carlie, it was just you and I these past couple weeks since Karly left and we really held down 205! On any bad day I was having you would make me dinner and we found any excuse to make the average day special. Just embracing this last phase of our lives in college and as roommates. My lifelines at any given moment. All of you made 205 what it was. A safe space and an apartment filled with love and memories. Opus, whiteboard nights, Fortnite couch rots (again), roomie dinners, wine nights, pregames & many iconic nights later - I love the four of you & our group. I will actually spend the rest of my years wishing I could go back. I would even go back to Bar South on the day it smelt the worst, and would be grateful to just do it all again. My sisters, my best friends, always my roomies. I trust you all with anything, and just as I have all your backs you all have mine. There was no limit to the trust and love we all poured on each other the past 2 years as roomies and throughout college entirely. Another gut feeling was the making of this apartment. I wish for nothing more than to be able to move into our apartment again for the first time and leaving just makes me sick. 205 always, through anything and everything. You all made me a better person.

Magic Mark — Again, this is torture to write this. How am I saying bye to you all?! The friend group we formed is near perfection. Every room gathered was filled with love, every event no matter how small was fun & I will forever remember all the moments we shared. I thank God that we all chose the same college and sorority at age 18-19 because now, at age 21-22 & for the rest of our lives, we have each other. Each of you played the role of a shoulder to cry on & a person to celebrate with. I am rich in life because I have you all. I will carry a piece of each and every one of you within my heart. The reunions are going to be unreal. We really should bring our moms/families, because that loss is also hard to bear. I know where we get our party from! Seriously though I can’t stop crying. The best decision we made was living in the same building a floor apart from each other. The Mark and Athens will mourn our loss forever (I hope). While we will see each other less, I have no doubt we will continue to fill rooms with love and celebrate each of our wins from a distance. Aruba arribas & wine nights for the rest of our lives. I can’t even comprehend the fact that we will be so far from one another. To quote a group favorite, I had the time of my life with you!! You all know how special you are to me. I’ll love you all forever and this group is so beautifully special.

Jack, Alec & Sheev — Seriously my brothers. You are the best guy friends a girl could ask for. You all showed up for every special moment, date night, game day, pregame, parents weekend, tennis tournament and anything else I have ever needed you for. Every call, stupid question & complaint I shared with y’all was met with care and laughter. The most non-judgmental fun group of guys ever. Jack, you got me through so many hours of our journalism major that I will never be able to repay you for. Also, hours of phone calls and advice about life. You know what to say and when my attitude needs to be checked lol. Alec, you are actually the life of every party. Anytime I am with you, we're finding something to laugh about and it’s always contagious. You are down for anything and are there for everyone. Sheev, Rocket League and Fortnite partners forever! You really have been my rock and the kindest person ever. I always know I can count on you for advice, a helping hand, or a fun night out. I am so blessed to know and love you guys. One last thing: FMK - Guy Fieri, Rihanna, or Tom Brady? Let’s debate at the Sonder bumpy lawn some time.

Overall, UGA, thank you for the people and thank you for the memories. Thank you for being cool enough for the best people I have ever met to end up in Athens for four years. Thank you for 2 national championships, 2 SEC championships, no losses at home, and overall the best football fan base ever. Thank you for making it socially acceptable to bark anywhere and for school pride to not stop in the state of Georgia. I am grateful for traditions and legacies we will be a part of forever. The fountain, ringing the bell, the arch - and our new ability to walk through it. Thank you for the big greek life presence and the sorority houses that fit every girl under one roof. The Milledge walks, the restaurants, the bar scene, the frat parties, the parades, events, parties -- everything. There is no better place than Athens, Georgia for college. Thank you for Grady, and for shaping me into the person I am today and the student I will continue to be. The best academics, classmates, professors & advisors/mentors. I am who I am because of you and the school you are. I would rot in the corner of a bar in Athens with all my friends forever if I could. I am filled with more emotions than I ever thought was possible. One thing is for certain, I really love you, Georgia.

This Rhode Island girl wasn't expecting such a beautiful southern welcome.From the minute I stepped on campus to the moment I graduated it was simply perfect. I would choose Georgia in every lifetime and I will be chasing this feeling for the rest of my life.

As alumni, I will embark on every opportunity to rep the dawgs & wear Georgia gear with pride. You gave me the best people to keep a piece of Georgia with me forever. I have a Georgia sized hole in my heart. As much as I loved the south, it is time for me to ship up to Boston and I know I am ready for it. As I have said before, this is only the beginning of the rest of our lives. How lucky are we to love something so deeply it hurts to say goodbye. I will never forget you, Georgia and I love you all!

Yours truly,

Jane