Unfortunately, I can be a little superstitious. I like to wish on stars and only pick up pennies with the head facing up. I also get scared of jinxes, so stating in the title of my article that 2017 will absolutely be better than 2016 would normally cause me to knock on wood 3 times. That is, if I wasn't so certain that it is true.

A lot of things happened in 2016. It was definitely a year of firsts. I completed my first year of college, began my first job, quit my first job, and experienced my first real heartbreak. I spent my first extended period of time away from my family- one third of the year in a foreign country to be exact.

The one thing all of these firsts have in common is growth. Although every year you can look back at who you were 12 months earlier and see a notable difference, this year I hardly recognize the girl I was at the stroke of midnight, January 1st, 2016.

My first year of college taught me that in order to do all that I want to do, I have to work hard for it. My first job taught me that even if all I want to do is relax in my bed and binge watch Netflix, I have to get off my lazy butt and go to work because I gave my word that I would. My first real heartbreak taught me to respect myself, know what I deserve and what I don't, and most importantly, how to find my own happiness. My semester abroad taught me to have confidence in myself. I learned that the best way to live, is to live in the moment.

Hard work, responsibility, respect, happiness, confidence, living. 2016 provided lessons in all of these, sometimes in very brutal ways. I know that this year will be better than the last because no matter what trials it shows me, I have new knowledge to get me through. However, what I think 2016 really brought me is motivation.

I am entering 2017 ready to conquer it. I am more motivated than I have ever been to succeed. The girl at the New Year's party last year was hesitant, broken, and confused. This year, she is going to fly into 2017 with wings wide open, ready to soar.