Starting college as a 14-year-old was difficult, and here are some questions that people frequently ask me.

How did you decide that you were mature enough to go and live on your own?

When I first started at the Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities (TALH), I did believe that I had the maturity to go off on my own. However, looking back at it I don't believe that I was fully ready to begin the college experience at such a young age (sorry parents!) and I definitely was not prepared to be thrust into the adult world all on my own. Being thrust into that college environment allowed for me to make my own decisions which led to some mistakes, but I was able to learn and grow from those mistakes. Although I was not initially prepared for what was coming, it definitely allowed for me to mature and discover myself (really cliche but also very true).

Don’t you want that high school experience?

In my honest opinion, the high school experience is overrated and not worth the trouble. High school was just a bunch of busy work, and I didn’t feel as though I was being pushed to my fullest potential. I could procrastinate on homework or projects until the morning of, and I would still be able to get, if not above average, a rather decent grade. For the social aspect of high school, I honestly don’t believe that I was too interested in joining any clubs or going to parties and such. The only thing I really did in high school was play on the JV tennis team. The two years of high school I did experience was fun, but I knew that I needed more than that.

Do you ever regret your decision of starting college early?

As I said before, starting college early allowed for me to grow and figure out who I am as a person. I experienced many up’s and down’s and made many mistakes before getting to the point that I am at today. Even if I had the chance, I wouldn’t go back and change any decisions I’ve made. Although I have matured very much from when I first started college, I still have a long ways to go, but at least I am incredibly blessed to have a head start in life.

What was your favorite part out of this whole experience?

My favorite part of this whole experience would probably be the people I met. All of the people I met, whether or not we were friends, have made such an important and significant impact on my life, and I appreciate them all. From all the petty fights to the late night venting sessions, all the people in my life so far have taught me an important lesson. I know I didn’t always get along with everyone, but they all played a role in my life, big or small. I don’t really know if I will stay in contact with these people or even see them ever again, but I know that the memories, both good and bad, will always be with me.

What are some things that you have learned throughout your experience?

The most important thing I learned would probably be that it’s okay to ask for help sometimes. I had a lot of inner problems that I was too afraid to really talk about, and it really brought me down to a bad place. When I finally reached out for help, it really opened my eyes to see that even in your lowest of lows, there’s always a way to come back. I still struggle with these problems sometimes, but it helps to know that I can get back from it and that I have people in my life who support me. Another thing that I learned is that sometimes it’s important to just let things go. A lot of people tell me that I let people take advantage of me and walk all over me, but I believe that you just have to let things go and see the good in people. This is something that I am trying very hard to work on because I believe that it makes a difference in people’s lives. I believe that if you’re always being pessimistic then you won’t really be able to fully enjoy the incredible gift of life that you’ve been blessed with. Letting things go is a big part of this because allowing that anger and hate to consume you will only create a constantly negative environment for yourself. Each day is a new day, and holding grudges will only hurt you. The past is the past, and there is nothing that you can do to change it. What you can do, though, is do something with the present and live the happy life that we all deserve.

If you're going to take anything away from this at all, then it should be that college can allow you to mature and grow in so many ways and that sometimes you'll have to make some mistakes in order to get there. Don't be too hard on yourself, and make sure what you're doing is what you truly want because life shouldn't be full of regrets!