Dear Hyewon, When I think about you I can’t help but appreciate so many qualities about the amazing person you choose to be. For most people, it’s so easy to find that one quality that defines them above everything else. But It’s never one thing with you. Is it your defiant independence and the way you won’t let anyone control you? Is it your resilience and the way you stand strong when you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders for the people you love? Is it the way you reflect, learn and grow from every second you experience? Or is it the way you’d give up your own happiness if it meant that your friends and family could have a glimpse of their own? Or maybe the way you look for hope and optimism even through your toughest battles? Or how you tend to lose yourself in your studies and emanate pure, infectious happiness to everyone around you? Your creativity and how well it works with your tasteful palate and inspiring style? Your cleaver, quick-witted and effortless humor? I can sit here and reflect on your endlessly precious qualities for days- whether it’s 8 or just as easily 8,000. To me, it’s all of these qualities and more that I so appreciate about you. But if I ever had to choose only one thing that I appreciate about you, more than anything else, it would be your dreams. To me, Hyewon, your dreams are the most beautiful thing about you. Your dreams are courageously ambitious. They’re never just wishful thoughts. Because no matter how hard things get- all I ever see from you is dedication, discipline and hard work as you put everything you’ve got to get where you want to be. I respect and appreciate how you back your ambitions with actions. I admire and love how you share your dreams with the people who are lucky enough to be your friends. I am thankful that you inspire me to dream bigger and even go as far as to support my dreams. And I hope you know that your dreams are a gift to you and everyone in your life. So to you, my dreamer friend, I wish you a very Happy 24th Birthday!!!! 🎂🎉🎊 Getting to know you so far has been the honor of a lifetime. I am unbelievably lucky and absolutely grateful to have you in my life. I will forever wear your friendship like a badge, one that I’m sincerely proud of. I’m so glad that I get to dream with you as we support each other towards our goals throughout this next chapter of your life. We both know that things won’t be easy; And honestly, I doubt that you’d be happy if things were easy- because where is the fun in that? Life will test you, as it has before, and you will prevail time and time again. I have full confidence that you can get through anything and always land on your feet. To that end, I want to leave you with a reminder that you are not alone. I am here for you and I will always be here for you. So whether life pushes you too hard and pushing back wears you out, or whether life is good and you want to give yourself a break, remember that I always have your back. Because no matter how strong and capable you are, you’re allowed to be “just a girl” and live the life you truly deserve whenever you want to. Lastly, I want you to really know that I’m so grateful for everything you do for me. I always thought that I was lucky to have friends who would go to war for me. It still feels unreal when life brings me down and everyone I love shows up for me and I am so thankful for all my friends. But Hyewon, you’re the first person to ever make me experience what it’s like to feel loved and cared for not just when the times are bad, but literally every single day. The fact that when you learned about my eating issues you immediately started checking in with me day in and day out and committed to it for literally months leaves me speechless. Yet you’ve done that and so much more for me. You once told me that I’m your comfort person, and I hope you know that I feel the same way about you. Your friendship is truly a divine blessing, more than I ever deserve. I still remember how you had your walls up when we first talked, but when you chose to let me in it was like seeing color sketched on the world by a celestial artist. So sincerely, Hyewon, thank you for allowing me to be your friend. Know that I love you in the sweetest way possible 🤍 Your friend- always & forever, Matt V. Valentine