I’m in my junior year of my undergraduate degree at college. To me, being able to say this is crazy, because I still feel like I just started my freshman year. Hell, I still feel like I haven’t graduated high school yet at times (but I’m so glad I have). I can easily recall the college process: looking online for hours, visiting schools, filling out application after application. It was an exciting and stressful time, which I never thought would come back around. And now as I quickly approach my senior year, I can’t stop some of those same feelings from coming back. What will I do after these four years? Should I go to grad school or work? How can I possibly leave behind the friends and memories I’ve made?

I think the uncertainty, while scary, is part of the fun of things. I entered college as an undeclared freshman and that was pretty scary in itself. So many people, including my friends, seemed so set on what they wanted to do with their lives. Meanwhile, I was walking around juggling four to five majors in my head that I could possibly pursue. To make matters worse, the whole year before was full of adults throwing in the ever-so-subtle “go into the medical field,” “there’s so many jobs in hospitals,” “people are always gonna get sick!” etc. That made me even more anxious. I can barely stand the sight of blood and even if I could, that’s not what I wanted to do at all. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, but I knew it wasn’t that.

College came and I had my entire freshman year to decide what I wanted to do. While getting some Gen Eds out of the way, I was able to take classes that interested me, like sociology, media, anthropology, and international relations. It’s obviously not foolproof, but I felt that this really helped me in weeding out what I liked and what I didn’t. In the end, I chose a degree in Communications with an English minor, and I really enjoy it. Is it what I want to do for the rest of my life? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I won’t end up doing at all what my degree goes toward, but I’m grateful for the time and the experience. I know myself and many students complain almost daily about the workload, the homework, the exams, the presentations, but sometimes I just can’t help but feel really lucky. These are some reasons why:

1) You meet some really great friends

Everyone’s experience is going to be different, but you’re going to meet a group of people who make you really happy. You’re going to like similar things, and spend late nights watching old Disney movies and too many afternoons spent at Chipotle. They’re going to make cleaning fun in some absurd way and they’re going to be there when you need to rant about a boyfriend/girlfriend, professor, or parents. You’ll go to concerts with them and plan crazy trips around Europe and decide how often you’re going to fly across the country to see them after graduation. You’re going to be so glad you met them and wish that you could live with them forever.

2) It gives you time to learn more about yourself

College is great if you like managing your time. There’s no 9-5 shift. You can take all 8:30s and get your classes over with by noon if you’d like. Or you can take all night classes and sleep in until noon. The choice is yours and that gives you the freedom to pencil in homework, jobs, outings, grocery trips, etc. It also allows you time to try new stuff you’ve always wanted to do. Sign up for a yoga class with your roommates, get a job at a daycare, take up bird watching—literally anything you want.

3) You learn your limits (sometimes the hard way)

There’s going to be some weeks that are a blur of exams and writing and cramming. You’re going to end up staying up really late and finding out at what time your body decides it just can’t stay awake anymore. You’ll drink lots of coffee and energy drinks, even though you swore off Red Bull for life. It’s okay; we’ve all been there.

4) You get to go out of your comfort zone

You can do this in unlimited ways, whether through studying abroad, taking a speech class, or just doing something you’ve never done before that makes you scared. You can decide just how far you want to step over that line and see what comes of it.

5) You'll make irreplaceable memories

Throughout all of it--the classes, the friends, the risks--you’ll go through those four years and come out feeling accomplished that you did. You’ll have friends to talk to about your uncertain future, you’ll know a little something about something (ie. whatever you studied), and you’ll have those great memories to think about whenever you feel a little lost.

Because I’m starting to realize that nothing is ever certain and you’ll always feel a little lost when it comes to where you’re going to go next. But that’s okay, we all feel that way at one time or another. So, go with your heart, trust your gut, and it’ll likely lead you to the next best thing—for you, of course.