As I approach my 19th birthday, I have begun to reflect on my life thus far and how far I have come. The growth that comes with the many transitions through high school and the huge shift to college can cause you to consider how you should live your life, what kind of person you want to be, and how you should go about achieving that. With those goals in mind I considered the lessons I have learned along the way that have made me who I am today. Here are the 8 most important thus far:

1. Never judge a book by its cover.

I know this is super cliche but it's true. As humans we naturally judge people based on our first impressions of them, which frequently is what they look like or what they're wearing. The truth is you never actually know what a person is going to be like until you actually sit down and have a conversation with them.

2. Never let someone else decide your self worth.

Whether it be a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a friend, or a teacher do not, I repeat, do not let them change how you feel about yourself. If someone truly cares about you they will not tear you down just to make themselves feel better.

3. Always be yourself.

Oscar Wilde once said, "Be yourself everyone else is already taken," again I know super cheesy and cliche but it's true. If people can't love you for who you are then they're not the right people for you.

4. Go to every event you can.

Whether it's a school dance or a football game, go. I went to seven school dances in my high school career and I only regret going to one of them. Those are pretty good odds if you ask me. Whenever I go to something I always think to myself if I have something better to do. If the answer is yes I do that, but if the answer is no I go. If I'm not having a good time I leave, but hey at least I gave it a shot.

5. Sometimes you need you time.

This seems to contradict number 4, but just like you don't want to miss out on having a good time with your pals, you also shouldn't forget to have a night in every now and again to catch up on your shows and cuddle with your pets.

6. You'll have lifelong friends and you'll have friends who abandon you.

Both are very important. The friends that leave you were there to teach you a lesson. Sometimes friends grow apart and that's okay too. The friends who will last a lifetime are extremely special and will be there for your highs and your lows.

7. If someone doesn't like you back, who cares.

Not everyone you like will lead to a relationship or like you back. You will come to realize that doesn't matter. It may seem awful at the time but it leaves your heart and time open for someone better That goes for friends and colleagues too. If you spent your life trying to please other people you would never live a life that makes you happy.

8. You are entitled to your own feelings.

I am a very emotional person. I cry all the time. I laugh all the time. Basically there isn't a time when I don't feel something. One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone tells me not to feel a certain way. You are allowed to feel however you want and no one should tell you differently.