Despite the brutal natural disasters and certain presidential inaugurations, 2017 was a year for regrowth and finding oneself. In fact, for some this year has included major successes and life-changing moments. For me, I finally got to experience the moments that I had dreamed of my entire life.

1. Prom

13 years of hype for what seemed like the most mediocre 2 hours of my life. Although the cliché idea of prom is a fairytale, the stress of finding the perfect dress, shoes, and jewelry to go along was extremely overwhelming. Even though prom didn’t live up to my “High School Musical 3” childhood dreams, it was a little better than the yearly homecoming dance.

2. Class of 2017 Graduation

Towards the end of the school year, high school became less and less desirable. Between the kids who just couldn’t be more mature or the cliques that constantly thought they ran the school, it was a relief when the class of 2017 was finally able to walk across the stage. Graduation went by so fast that I don’t even remember walking across the stage. In a way, it was similar to prom, because it also didn’t live up to my childhood expectations.

3. Committing to College

The hardest part of committing to college was applying. Most of my college acceptances happened in 2017. As exciting as it was going on college tours as an admitted student, it was more fun looking at the options I had at the end of the day. I stressed myself out when it came down to choosing a college, but thankfully I ended up where I was supposed to be.

4. Leaving for College

Many teens experienced this feeling this summer, and even if they stayed local, they still had friends who traveled far. At first, leaving for college was the most exciting thing ever, but towards the end, it was a nerve-wracking process. I never realized that I basically had to leave everything behind for a new life. As my family and I packed up the cars, I kept telling myself that college was just going to be a fun vacation and boy was I right.

5.Completing The First Semester of College

Throughout the summer my parents stressed that a good first semester GPA is crucial for success. For many of us, the first semester of college was perceived in different ways. A big part of this dilemma was that many kids had never before gotten the freedom that college had to offer. Personally, my experience could not have gone better, but for others, it was a time where they realized that college just wasn’t for them.

6. Making New Lifetime Friends

They say the friends you make in college end up being your lifetime friends. If that’s true then I have to make new ones fast. I’m kidding, I’m kidding. However, I’m a very extroverted person who usually never struggles with meeting new people, but I often struggled with the thought of making new friends in college for a while. I never imagined making new lifelong friends, because I always thought that I would be cheating on my best friend back home. Thankfully, everything worked itself out and I have found myself hanging around people who want to see me thrive, and support me in all that I do.

7. New Beginnings

2017 has been the most influential year on my loved ones, my friends, and me. Little did I know that all of the years before stood as the foundation for the more mature me. As the year comes to an end, take time to reflect on the good aspects rather than the bad. Whether the good is something as little as a new job, finding your “people”, spending time with family, or just genuinely being in a state of happiness, we often find ourselves revolving around negativity. Learn to focus on the positive.

With that being said, I wish everyone a nourishing and enriching 2018.