Hello fellow pillow talkers. This is the last column of my college career and I wanted to extend my gratitude to all of my pillow talk victims past and present.

I first officially met Hannah Doherty last week as we sat in the Adirondack chairs outside the library. I have known about Hannah for quite some time now, but have never formally (I should really say informally) introduced myself to her in the past four years we have cohabitated on this campus together. As the saying goes: better late than never. And with Hannah that was certainly the case.

I first met Amanda McGrosky as we rowed down the Connecticut River during our first year on the crew team, and we have maintained our side-by-side friendship both on and off the water to this day. Amanda is one of those people who is never afraid to do her own thing. Whether it is studying abroad in England, assisting with thesis research by observing ant lions’ behavior in the psychology department, or driving up to Vermont in the middle of the night just for the fun of it, Amanda has truly asserted herself as an all-around individual who is capable of success in any arena.

I first met Vennie Encheva during my freshman year: she was my next door neighbor in Porter. I once went downstairs to the printing room where she was writing a paper, and we have continued to have intriguing and informal conversations ever since. A world traveler from Razgrad, Bulgaria, Vennie has done more than one [...]

I first met Dawnell Powell in my Educational Psychology class sophomore year, and there was instant chemistry! Dawnell is simply one of the coolest women I have had the pleasure to know here at Mount Holyoke. Originally from New York City (Queens), Dawnell is a dynamic individual who has left her mark in many communities.

I first met Leah Dion in a crew boat my first year. She was my coxswain, and I was her two-seat port rower. Not only did she give directions to her novice eight boat that year, but she has taken her own life in amazing directions, as well. Leah is from Derry, New Hampshire.

I met Gloria Jiajie Tang in my first-year gender studies seminar, Women’s Public Voices, and this seemingly reserved, gracious, and beautiful senior has voiced herself in many humble ways since then. Gloria is from Shanghai, China, and learning exactly how she got to Mount Holyoke is another story in itself.

You may have seen this smart, outgoing, and effervescent soccer player leaving her mark on the field. You may have seen her keep things in check at Kendall as a fitness center desk attendant. You may have sat next to her in a Shakespeare or biology class. Truth be told, if you think you haven’t yet seen Jesse Sugrue around campus, she is everywhere!

I met Jesse playing soccer last year for Mount Holyoke.

Aba Asibon and I met during our first year, working in the Prospect dining hall washing dishes. We rocked those awesome dining services hats, rubber gloves and stylish aprons, while running dishes out to the salad bar every five minutes. Because of the glamorous employment we shared together, I couldn’t let this incredible person out of my grasp.

Flash back to Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006: the lights went out, the covers went up, and the talking began. That infamous night, in a modest-sized triple in Porter- room 320- began a tradition which sparked my interest in getting to know amazing people through casual conversation: Pillow Talk.