To my friends at graduation

By: Kate Howard
Posted In: Opinion

As I look back on my years at Salve, I don’t see classes and books and research papers. I see a kaleidoscope of faces, a moving landscape of the people who have made me who I am as we all step from the confines of college to the endless decisions of the real world.

From my freshman year girls in Miley to the boys in Reefe to the vast array of wonderful friends I’m proud to call mine today, the people closest to me have each left their mark on me. The freshman year friends who kept me from jumping ship through their good humor and sympathy; the people who started partying at my house on the weekends and are now some of my closest friends; roommates who have been with me from the beginning, and their friendship and love for me has never faltered. All of these beautiful people are what makes Salve hard to leave, more so than any dorm room or ocean view.

Since I can (cue evil laugh here), I’d like to take this chance to personally thank the people who I know will read this, and have made my four years at Salve something I’ll be leaving reluctantly but with more memories than I ever asked for.

To my roommates: they don’t call us the 20 Narry girls for nothing; somehow, through these four years we have melded into something more than just ourselves, and though I resisted it at times, there are no two people I’d rather be joined with. You make me laugh even when I don’t want to, and I’ll miss coming home to your garrulous selves every day. If I had to sum up my love for you in one letter, if would be… f.

The Miley year: Yelling up the halls, Snooding all the time, riding the shuttles to parties, salsa classes, and even getting ourselves into all kinds of trouble with Joe Lomastro were all worth it when I think about the amazing people I know. We definitely had our challenges with our first year of college, but you all are the reasons I stuck it out and also the reasons I’m glad I did.

The Reefe year: No decision I’ve ever made could compare to the night that Erica and I decided to hang out outside and Brian knocked my glasses off my face, tackled me and told me he loved me. No first meeting since has compared to that night. Shaun played the gee-tar, Dave talked about Texas, and the rest of the year was filled with so many stories that I could never fit them all here. Schrabotnik gave us memories we still talk about, 304 became a legend in its own right, and we continued to get into trouble with Joe Lomastro (does anyone remember that night that we had roughly 15 people sleeping in our room… sorry Joe!) That year was probably the best for all of us, and I thank God and Joe Lomastro for putting us all there together. Although I’m not sure either was too pleased with the outcome, we sure were.

20 Narry: You’d have to have been here to understand. Through luaus, cookouts, and weekend parties, you all have taken 20 Narry from a party house to a home. This house has seen its share over the last two years, and I don’t regret one morning mopping the floor because every minute spent with my best friends was worth the mess it sometimes entailed. Our living room has seen romances blossom and falter; our bathroom has seen more than anyone cares to admit. 20 Narry has been our home, and the second home for Third St., Dennison, Connection, Howard, Dixon, Goodwin, Thames, Webster, sometimes Boston, on-campus visitors and anyone else we were fortunate to have show up on our doorstep.

I wouldn’t have had it any other way.