With A Little Help From My Friends....

So here it is: late December 2012. I have been in Boston for five and a half months, have completed my first semester at the University of Massachusetts, and I have overcome every hurdle along the way. I have learned what I'm made of and I'm a more confident and responsible individual than the scared kid that left California back in July. I have two jobs, a home, and a 3.5 GPA. For all the progress I've made, though, I would not have been able to go through with it were it not for the support of my friends and family.

First off I'd like to thank Kathy. Despite the direction our relationship has taken in recent months, when I first came to Boston, she was extremely supportive when I was stressing out about where to live and how I was going to eat.

Next I'd like to mention my big brother Eric, who knows me well enough to use the precise key words at the exact right moment to keep me going when I was ready to come home and call it quits. It was through his urging me to keep living my American Dream and stay in Boston for at least a year that gave me the renewed energy to find housing right when I was ready to give up.

Thirdly I would like to throw a huge, gigantic, enormous THANK YOU out to my good friend, one of the best I know, Megan McTavish, who helped me find strength in God and the Bible when I was at my weakest, and who reminded me to find enjoyment in my new life in Boston and loosen my death grip on what I left behind. Without her, I'd still be desperately homesick and counting down the days until I could go back to Humboldt. Instead, I'm loving my life and my pursuits out here, and though I do miss friends and family back home, I know I made the right decision to follow my dream and come to Boston.

Last to be mentioned before I call it a night/morning, but certainly not the least, is Chris and Melinda. It's getting cold here in Boston, tomorrow we're supposed to have a snow storm, and these guys sent me a scarf and a pair of long johns to keep me warm this winter. I'd never been so happy to get underwear for Christmas in my entire life!

I know I didn't mention half of you, and the half I did mention didn't get half of what you deserve, but I hope that all my friends who may see this know that I would not be the success that I am were it not for your love and support. I hope to see you guys someday soon. Until then, thank you, and I look forward to making you all proud.