You're probably thinking, "why don't you want these four years to be 'the best years of my life'?" Well, I am going to tell you.

Why would I want a short span of four years to be the end all be all? Why would I always want to look back and long for such a short span of time in my life? Why would I miss these years when I haven't even lived yet?

Finishing up my first year of college, I didn't have a good experience, but it was not bad either. It was neutral. And when I look back on these four years, I hope I always have the feeling of it being neutral. Of it being a time where I went through the motions, worked hard, and made a destiny for myself.

The "best years of my life" will NOT be marked by small living quarters, rubber flip flops worn in shower stalls, barely digestible food, and hours upon hours spent hunkered over text books, study guides, and essays. The "best years of my life" won't be marked by missing having an everyday routine that doesn't continually change, being stressed out, and missing my bed.

But, I can tell you, the "best years of my life" will begin when I am handed that undergrad diploma. They will consist of applying for grad school to receive my masters and pursue my passion. They will consist of ups and downs. Of paying bills. Of house hunting. Of climbing to the top, and falling back down. Of making my family grow and my heart widen.

The "best years of my life" will be the day I walk down the isle and say "I do." They will be the day I finally cross life goals off my bucket list. They will be the day I watch my child take their first steps. They will be the day I travel to Disney World, the beach, and so many places with the person I love. They will be the day I watch my best friends get married, and then eventually my little sister. They will be the day I take my child to their first baseball game, or first race. They will be the day I bring the new family dog home and house train it. They will be the day I change a student's life for the better.

The "best years of my life" will be filled with so much more than the mere time spent in college. I don't want "the best years of my life" to only include a span of four short years. Those who love college, bravo. I am happy for you. I am happy you could embrace these years as well as you did. But for me, not so much, and I am okay with that. I can't wait for the "best years of my life" to begin.

Those years will be filled with love, laughter, happiness, heartache, travel, accomplishments, and triumph.