As exams begin to peer around the corner and my freshman year of college comes to a close, I can't help but reflect on everything that has occurred in such a seemingly short amount of time. All of the struggles, laughs, tears, late nights and friendships have forged memories in me that will never be forgotten. Looking back now, and in the future I'm sure, there are definitely some things that I can thank my freshman year for.

Thank you for showing me the true value of friendship.

If there is one thing that is true for nearly every college student out there, it's this: there is no way we could have survived this year without some good friends by our side. Whether hometown homies, an awesome roomie, sweet sorority sisters, or rowdy hall mates, my freshman year has given me so many people to be thankful for. They have taught me so much about myself and life in general, and I will always be thankful for that. From venting about classes, to comparing hometowns, to numerous food trips, to many a drive at wee hours of the morning, there is definitely no shortage of memories from this year. I mean, what are late night study sessions (you know, the ones that start out with studying then lead to random conversations almost always ending up with a trip to Cookout) without some amazing people to share them with?

Thank you for teaching me that grades do not define me. In high school, I was one of those kids. You know, the ones who would literally freak out if they made lower than an A on, well, anything. Being used to this, college definitely presented me with some culture shock. Three weeks deep into general chemistry and I was thanking the good Lord above that I had a C...and was sincerely hoping I could keep it. It took me a while, but I finally realized that, while very important, grades do not define my worth. As students, we all have difficulty in a variety of different areas. Some may do exceedingly well in areas where others find great difficulty, and vice versa. As long as we give it our all though, there's really nothing to be ashamed of, right?

Thank you for developing in me a new appreciation for home.

No one likes to admit it, but really, we all miss home at one point or another during our time at college. For many of us, it first hits around the 4th week of classes, when you're sleep-deprived, the plethora of germs surrounding you gives you a case of the sniffles, and you're really just dying for a good meal and a hug from mom. (Let's be real folks, no matter how hard they try, the dining hall will never compare to some good ol' home cooking.) You're tired, stressed, and the "adult life" is beginning to get overwhelming. All we really want is to crawl into our own beds in our own rooms and pretend that 6 page paper that's due tomorrow doesn't exist. We'll never admit to that of course, but we all know it's true.

Thank you for the memories.

Honestly, I probably won't always remember how exactly the Roman Empire fell, or every step of the glycolysis pathway (shocking, I know). However, there are so many things freshman year has given me that I will certainly keep with me forever. Like the first time the fire alarm went off, while I was in the shower of course. Or the panic I always feel when waiting in line for a "free" t-shirt (have you seen tuition costs?). Or when I rode with the security guard back to the dorm from the library. Or talking my friends through many a teary night. Or the sweet taste of a Cookout tray at 2 a.m. Or the first time I met some of the people I now can't imagine life without.

All of this, paired with those "class" things we go to of course, have made my freshman year a truly unforgettable experience. I know this is just the beginning, but I'm already so thankful for all that college has given me, and I hope the years to come are just as amazing as this one has been.