C'est La Vie

There's so much more to university than academics.

you spend these few years of your life learning how to live

learning how to laugh and to cry, 
to fight and to make up

learning how to respect others, and to appreciate differences

learning how to make it in the face of adversity,

beating the odds,

surviving,

getting hurt and picking yourself up again.

you spend these years realizing there's all kinds of love out there,
more than just romantic love

realizing what true friendship really means

realizing that there are people who wont judge you by your past mistakes,
who know there's more to you than that,
these people won't ridicule your dreams,
or try to bring you down.
instead they'll silently stand by you, 

and be there for you whenever you need them,
no matter how many silly fights or arguments you may have had.

these are the people you will begin to think of as family,

to love, and respect.

you spend these years growing up

making that journey from innocence into adulthood

making friends

falling in love, 

and then falling out of it!

dreaming, 
and having the courage to pursue those dreams,

making decisions that may well decide the course of the rest of your life.

and then one day, before you know it,

it's all over.

everyone you've grown to love is taken away and scattered.

and the more I look back at our time together,

the more I realize

that watching everyone get up and leave -- it sure as hell won't be easy.

and that's one last thing I hope these years teach me,

how to say good bye.

and let go.