Dear Class of 2025

Dear Fellow Seniors,

As I sit down to write this, I’m flooded with memories of the past four years—memories that make it hard to put everything into words. How do you sum up four years of laughter, growth, tears, and adventure? How do you express gratitude for a family you never expected to find?

We started this journey as strangers from all over the world, stepping into a world that promised us a whirlwind of change and challenge. And, oh, did it deliver. Seven countries. Seven homes. Hundreds of cities, foods, and moments. We’ve lived out of our suitcases, adapted to countless cultures, and seen the world through lenses that most people only dream about.

But what made it all extraordinary wasn’t just the places we went or the things we learned—it was you. Each of you brought a piece of home into my life, no matter where in the world we were.

We’ve shared everything—our meals, our dreams, our frustrations, and sometimes even our beds when the days got long and the nights got cold. I think of the late-night conversations when the world outside seemed so daunting, but we found strength in each other’s words. The quiet moments of solidarity when we were all exhausted from the constant change but pushed forward together. The wild laughter over mishaps in new cities, the tears we shed when life got too heavy, and the unspoken understanding that no matter what, we had each other. We went through pandemics, quarantines, earthquakes, and lastly tsunami alerts together!

We grew together. We stumbled, we fell, but we always picked each other up. From celebrating birthdays to comforting one another through heartbreaks, from heated debates to silent hugs, we’ve built something unbreakable. These moments, these bonds, are what I will carry with me forever.

As we prepare to graduate, I want you to know how much you mean to me. I’m so proud of the people we’ve become—the resilience, courage, and love that defines this group. The world is waiting for us, but I hope we’ll always find ways to reconnect, to reminisce, and to support one another, no matter where life takes us.

Thank you for being my family when I was thousands of miles away from my own. Thank you for showing me that love and connection can transcend borders, languages, and time zones. Thank you for being my constant in a world that was always shifting.

Here’s to all we’ve accomplished together, and here’s to all the adventures yet to come.

‍

With all my love and gratitude,

Nourien

Class of 2025