Dear Champlain,
Hey, you. Around this time four years ago, I knew you were the one for me. Choosing you was the easiest decision I ever made, there are just some things you need to know before we separate.
To start, I was straight up in love at first sight. Nah, not just the cute tour guide. I mean, look at you, and those curves. From the base of Hill Hall to the third floor of the Library, then South House up to Spinner, you’re the perfect size. Not to mention, the way you dress. You could switch between business formal into a drug rug and always look good. Even dressing up or down, no one rocked snazzy flannels or printed sweaters like you. Oh, and the way your hair was pushed back in a bandana during Humans vs. Zombies drove me wild. Don’t even get me started on how great you look in blue and green….
There are even more characteristics below the surface. Your open mind was a trait that didn’t go unnoticed. You listened to feedback and applied it for everyone’s benefit, even if that meant being bombarded by emails to fill out surveys. Your strength was also a quality that immediately drew me to you. I’m not just talking about those muscles from hockey and rugby, but the support you extended – tech wise or through one-on-one counseling. You always stand up for what you believe in, and I truly respect you for it.
Everything was new at the start. Thanks to you, I will never look at a breakfast sandwich the same way again. Who knew that adding a hash brown would be so life-changing? You motivated me to challenge myself and not to let fear stop me from adventure. Cliff jumping at the Buckets and rock climbing with the crew pushed me in ways I never expected from myself, despite almost breaking my butt and hitting myself in the eye with rope.
As wonderful as you are, there are sides to you that I won’t always miss. You kept me up for hours on end, from working on projects that you pushed me to improve on, to a late-night trip to Mr. Mike’s for buffalo chicken pizza. My growing reliance on coffee is caused by your constant feeding off my time and energy. And when your fire dies out come the Winter, you just become so cold. This icy exterior is extremely off-putting, and I suggest you think about the safety of others before you hurt someone you love.
That being said, there was a time I almost left you. Your power consumed me, and I felt helpless and lost. It wasn’t until the second year of our relationship when there was a new side of you that I connected with. You made me realize that one negative trait does not define a person, and that the characteristics making us different are not a bad thing.
Even though we have to part, I will keep always my favorite words from you: Let Us Dare. I will dare to learn, by extending my knowledge and exploring ideas outside of my own. I will dare to venture into experiences that come only once in a lifetime, whether it’s a new job or traveling to a new country. I will dare to open up to people, all people, and share these moments, so I can look back on a full life.
You will always be with me. Go Beavers.
Love,
Casey