The end of an era

Wow.... so the last 4 years have culminated in this moment... this not-quite-real feeling of euphoria but also incredible sadness! The last 22 years hinged on this moment and I think the next 60+ years will too.
Back when I was 16 and my brother was going off to uni I didn't think I wanted to go. My aspirations ran to working in a shop. Big wow. I had ideas that I wanted to be a writer but I was lazy and thought that uni just meant more work and being told what to do. Then when we dropped my brother off at his halls, my eyes were opened and I realised that I wanted that life. I think me and my brother have taken very different things from our years at uni. Our courses were at opposite ends of the spectrum and our universities light years apart. We're chalk and cheese, my brother and me and I think by the end of his 3 years he was ready to get to work but me? I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.
These last four years have brought me some of the happiest moments of my life, but also some of the saddest. When I left 6th form, I was looking forward to the future but was sad to leave my friends. This time, I realise that I won't be leaving my friends because I'm friends with some of the most incredible people in the world and these friendships are for life.
There have definitely been a lot of ups and downs (mostly ups!) in my university years but I wouldn't change it for the world, if anything, I'd throw myself into it even more. I've had 4 very different birthdays whilst I've been here. Only 1 really stands out: when my ex-boyfriend got arrested and I vowed to never go out again on my birthday! In between those years though, I've shared some wonderful experiences with amazing people.

I know this is all very soppy but it's also very heartfelt! I came to uni a very naive young person, but also open minded and curious. I couldn't wait to see what the world had to offer me. I got a little lost on my journey on several occasions but I finally found my way and now I think I've come out the other side a better person. My best friend in the whole world, Hollie, is a fantastic human being. She's incredibly generous and wouldn't hurt a fly. Me and Hollie, although different in many ways, are soulmates and without her, this last year in particular would have been very difficult to cope with. But whenever I needed her, she was there.

Mark, Lee, Kim and Jen are also amazing people, and great friends. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot more of them now that we're free of exams and assignments!!

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that without these people, I wouldn't be the same person and the last 4 years would have been very different. Of course, there are other people who have helped to shape me but this last year has been a defining one on my life and one I will never, ever, forget. Here's to the last 4 years, ones I will miss very much, and here's to the next 4, where many things will change but my heart will still hold the memories.

:)