To My Forever Friends,

We are in the throws of graduation season, where hopeful graduates turn their tassels and throw their caps. Some are heading into the “real world” with a plan; a job awaiting them and a new home to explore. Others are heading back to their parents’ houses to strategize, and still others are embarking on travel adventures for further self discovery. Whatever path is taken, it will be great.

For clarification, I am not actually graduating. I have just finished my junior year and I am simultaneously flaunting and dreading my newly acquired senior status. 

But  I watch as my social media feeds are flooded with notices of graduation and future plans, pictures of smiling faces and popped champagne bottles. Many of these faces I only somewhat recognize – friends of friends, or people I’ve had minimal encounters with, as is the nature of social media. But then there are the other faces, of friends who I see every day, friends who might as well be family. And to see those faces, radiant and confident, makes my heart swell to the point of bursting.

I am immensely proud of my friends who are graduating; my friends who are moving on to the next chapter of their lives. They’ve been a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration for my past 3 years of college. Many of these men and women I’ve known since my first year, and have substantially shaped my college experience. They’re a wide variety of people, with a wide variety of accomplishments and goals. They’ve brought diversity and understanding to my life, unknowingly influencing my choices and decisions.

While there is so much appreciated variety, I would actually like to focus on one particular group of individuals. My forever friends, my dance girls, my people. 

When you spend hours upon hours, day after day, with the same people, you are bound to have some sort of relationship with them. One would assume, since we are part of a dance program we wouldn’t get along as well as we do. One would assume that there is alway an underlying tone of competition. And I’m sure to some extent there is. But it’s not strong enough to cause distress, or keep us from being a family. Because that is what we are, family.

The seniors who are graduating from our dance program are unlike any women I’ve ever met. They are fierce, ferocious, unstoppable, inspirational. They have the ability to be blunt and honest, and still caring and kind. Maybe they don’t know it, maybe they do, but they are the reason I continue to dance. Every day I would walk into the studio, good day or bad, but it would become infinitely better upon seeing them. They inspire me every day to keep trying, to fail and to get back up, to experiment and be fearless. With them I can laugh, cry, joke, and being serious. They work harder than any other people I know, they are driven and courageous.

Each and every one of these individuals has so much to offer, and I am eternally grateful for having the opportunity to learn and grow with them. While we all share a common passion, these women bring diversity and unparalleled value to our program. I have learned so much just by listening, and watching, as they navigate through their own choices, in the arts and in the aspects of their lives I was privileged to witness.

I honestly believe I share a special bond with these women. They were the role models I needed to help me brave my first 3 years of college. They were some of the first people I met when I started my college stint. They have seen me in triumph, doubt, and even failure. Without knowing it, they set an example for me, one that I wanted to follow. I will miss them beyond words as they carry on and follow the paths they’re creating and discovering. But I count myself lucky just to have known them.

To my seniors of the USC Dance Program, I am immensely lucky to have known you, to have been able to call you my friends. Thank you for including me, for supporting me, for inspiring me. I am beyond excited to see what you accomplish, and to continue to support you and be your biggest fan. These words aren’t enough, I could never truly express how grateful I am to have spent 3 years together. And while your time in our program has come to a close, I refuse to acknowledge this as a good bye, because I never believe it is. Just a see you later. 

So forever friends, see you later.