I Hate Goodbyes.

Another school year has passed. Credits have been earned and classes have been passed (hopefully). Friendships have been forged and relationships have been created. But this year was different. Something about it made it unlike any school year I've ever endured. As I reflect on the past eight months that I've spent at Snow College, I try and pinpoint what was different than other years.

Maybe it was the town I lived in. I mean, Ephraim is a beautiful, small town with a safe and secure feeling that's hard to find in other college towns. I spent many a late night walking around campus breathing in the fresh air and looking at the stars.

Maybe it was the adventures. From hiking in Capitol Reef with my Literature of the Outdoors class, to taking pictures in the autumn foliage in Maple Canyon with Callie and Brianna, to drives up Fairview Canyon with Weston, only fall into the snow and almost lose a flip flop, to singing around a campfire with the greatest ward ever to exist, to impromptu snowball fights with my Mountain View besties, to walks down Main Street with Laura, and much more.

Maybe it was the hardships I faced. The passing of Marissa Watkins brought me closer to the friends I had. Tough times at school made me grow closer to my best friend and sister, Callie. Bouts of sadness and anxiety made me come to love my Heavenly Father and the comfort He brings me.

Maybe it was the friends I've made. Let me tell you, I've never had a better group of friends in my life, ever. The people I've met have been warm, friendly, kind, accepting, funny, outgoing, adventurous, happy, optimistic, trusting, honest, sarcastic, and simply amazing. 

Maybe it was D, all of the above. I often look at my life as a puzzle made up of thousands of puzzle pieces that I get from everything I've done in life and from everyone I've met. If you know me, you've contributed a puzzle piece to my gigantic puzzle. Thank you for everything you've done.

So I'd like to thank the following individuals that I've associated with at Snow College for changing my life:

Dain Christensen, Marissa Watkins, Callie Roberts, Rachel Staheli, Tessa Bradford, Samm Boldrin, Amber North, Camille Densley, Laura Sorensen, Janelle Clark, Chelsey Powell, Jill Hammond, Taylor Anderson, Chelsea Crowther, Jessican Groo, Heidi Luscher, Weston Allinson, Yosuke Tsuda, Bradie Shelton, Brittany Attanasio, Sage Griffin, Bekah Nelson, Becca Allen, Kacia Jacobson, Brianna Packard, Mariah Dawe, James Marsh, Shelby Patterson, Martha Beh, Taysen Barben, Brooke Bradley, Jason Hill, Lindsey Zea, Hayden Worwood, Kylee Hone, Gentry Wilson, Chaelyne Cook, Kim Marsden, Kylee Morse, Colton Purcell, Joe Fishietau, Ciara Ruesch, Tiffany Rasmussen, Emily Goates, Trevor Brimley, Christian Willardson, Chris Dodge, Tyler Clark, Kailey Doty, Adam Smith, Jessica Johnson, Caleb Swallow, Nick Wells, Kade Flake, Josie McBride, Michael Southwick, Alenia Robertson, Chelsea Herrin, Kirsten Winther, Vanessa Moses, Adaire Provost, Ally Anderson, Scott Mason, Nicole Bradley, Nathan White, Paul Davis, James Davis, Holly Troskie, Andrea Cox, Tyler Olsen, Shantae Maddocks, Bethany Farley, Kim Van Duker, Cassidy Bailey, Jon Daisson, Shaleese White, Caleb Coleman, Karlissa Bradley, Chloe Palmer, Dannika McBride, Bryce Stephenson, Kallie McCullough, Mellaina Adams, Morgan Thompson, Sam Thomson, Jessica Harris, Brianna Wright, Kenny Fong, Lindsey Nicholes, Kieran Meeks, Ashlee Hess, Devin Mitchell, Kayla Huff, Brianna Anderson, Katrina Bowen, Hailee Zeeman, Emily Christensen, Chris Jenkins, Heather Reynolds, Kaylyn Sly, Bishop Eddie Hanson, Taylor Holden, Jade Barben, Greg Boothe, Chad Carter, Nathan Sutterfield, Lorenzo Garza, Alyssa Shewell, Tori Turner, and many others (sorry if I missed you! There's so many of you!).

I love you all very much! I hate saying goodbye, but I know that someday we'll see each other again.

Thank you all for changing my life. I am who I am today because of you!

Love,
Drew