Whenever I'm back home, friends and family always tell me that I've changed a lot since they last saw me, especially when I returned after my very first semester. I think it's because being a Smithie opened up the opportunity to learn and mature. Here are the five lessons I want to share!

1. Prioritize your sh*t.

Time management became an asset in my academic career and attending Smith allowed me to improve upon and exercise that skill. New dramas to watch and nearby concerts were just a few of the distractions that plagued me (the concerts really tempted me to skip class sometimes), so I had to learn how to manage my waking hours into a productive but still enjoyable time. I realized that my best work and thoughts come out in the evening, so I used up the majority of the day catching up on an episode or two that I had missed earlier in the week while schoolwork was my way of ending the day. Finals week, however, meant a tighter study schedule.

2. It's okay to fail (because it happens).

Of course, my definition of failing is different from most others'. But I've lessened the load on my shoulders since entering college; my world no longer comes crashing down if a grade is lower than I'd anticipated. I look at the professor's comments and make note of how I can change my approach or just learn from the experience for the future. Not doing well is part of the process and, as long as I don't make the same mistake again, it'll be OK.

3. Housework is kind of necessary.

At home, I was jokingly referred to as "the useless one" because I didn't know how to do simple cooking, laundry and everything else of the like. I was also horrible at finding and fetching things even if they were right in front of me. Being a Smithie helped me become a lot more independent because I was forced to learn how to complete such tasks based on my own schedule. This was also when I learned that deviating from said schedule, even a little bit, proved to be catastrophic. Never again will I skip laundry day...

4. The world is filled with different and amazing people.

College is a different kind of world and in the good way. I've encountered so many people of so many backgrounds, ethnicities, gender and sexual identities, etc. Smith College is where I first met a bigger group of people all at once; I was pretty sheltered growing up, so I've learned a lot since then. The campus may be comparatively small but it was my own introduction to the "real" world.

5. Embrace your true self.

Smith is the place that made me more comfortable in my own skin. I can speak my mind (albeit still with a bit of nervousness) and not back down, which is a huge development for me. I'm neither ashamed of my passions and interests nor of the hobbies and activities I take part in. I became proud of who I am, how I act and what I believe in. And for that, I'm grateful that I went to and still am at Smith. I wouldn't change it even if I could.