Before this year I have never belonged anywhere.  Thanks to CSC I now have a home.  Thank you for excepting me, even with all of my flaws, and seeing the person that I am and strive to be.  Thank you for pushing me to learn things about myself that I never had the guts to explore.  Thank you for encouraging me to be a part of music, the one thing always wanted to do but never had the guts or the support to try.  Thank you for allowing me to be a leader.   I wouldn’t have made it through the year without certain people and I want to thank you.  (I didn’t want to do this on facebook because some of the people on this list are not good with public displays, or any displays of emotion.   Also that would be kind of cheesy.)

JAM-Hey look I am trying to not call you Jessica! You have been there for me every day since I met you no questions asked.  I know I talk over you, sometimes ignore you, and don’t always listen when I should, but that is how I act around my family, and that is what   you have become. I WILL miss you, regardless of the jokes I make. 

Becka-You were my first friend at Castleton, and have become one of my best. You have become like the little sister I never had, and always wanted.   (I know we are not actually sisters, don’t worry) I can’t wait to do Birthright with you (Have you pre-registered yet?) You have listened to so much of my crap this year, I am so sorry =/.  I can’t wait till next year when the two of us (and Molly) turn the guard into something worth watching.  I know I can’t do it without you. 

Carolyn-You have to be the sweetest person in the world. At first I was so scared to talk to you just because you are drum major, but I am so glad I did.  Our regular after chorus lunch dates were a highlight of my week.  You always have a way of looking at the bright side of things, which is a skill I lack. I do not know what I would have done this year without your brilliant and witty analogies.  Thank you for making me feel less old.  

Erika-I wish I had gotten the opportunity to get to know you better this year. I have loved our time as chorus buddies.  I love how much you love band. You are one of the few people I can say loves band as much as I do, and for that I have a lot of respect for you. Thank you for treating me like I belong, and not like “the other Erika”.  I really hope that I can gain your respect as captain in the next year.  

Matt-Where do I begin? I know you will never read this so it doesn’t matter what I say, but I know that if I don’t get these words out than I am going to end up saying them to your face tomorrow and that will make you feel awkward and uncomfortable.  I appreciate that you are bad with feelings.  Here goes…You are the only guy that I can truly say I would trust with my life.  You have made me believe in myself again.  I love that you don’t put up with any of my shit. You have been the route of so much of my anxiety, yet you have also been, in someways the cure to my depression.  You are the first guy in my entire life to treat me like a lady, not a useless piece of fat lard. I can be a horribly moody girl but you still treat me as a friend, even as a close friend.  I know I see problems that aren’t there, but you have helped me see that it is ok to take some things at face value, and not analyze them.  I can be horrible to you sometimes, and I am sorry about that.  You should know that I absolutely adore you, and that if I ever say anything hurtful, it is because sometimes I honestly don’t think I deserve you in my life. I know that it sounds extreme, but you literally changed my entire outlook on life. I wasn’t happy with myself at all, and now there are days that I can actually look in the mirror and say that I like the person I have become. That confidence is because of you. You have believed in me more than anyone ever has.  Gaining your respect, and your friendship has been one of my greatest achievements here so far. I know you don’t just give them away. You are the only person who didn’t view my passing out of music fundamentals as a big deal because you “knew I could do it”.  That meant the world to me.  We have had our fair share of awkward moments, and our conflicts, but they just brought us closer together.  You are one of my best friends, and I wish that you could handle emotions enough for me to tell you all of this.  You are really an amazing person and you can do absolutely anything.  I am sure that one day Vermont will be a state with amazing marching bands, and that will be in huge part because of you.  

Molly-I can’t wait to live with you.  You are an amazing friend who has been there for me through thick and thin.  You are an amazing performer and a beautiful girl inside and out. Don’t ever think anything else.

Nick-Thank you so much for coming to my master class.  That really meant a lot to me.

Ali-I just met you, but you are awesome. End of story.  You better do guard next year.

Thank you all (and many many many more) for the best year of my life. I miss you already, and I haven’t even left yet.