I can’t believe it’s over. It feels like just yesterday I was shopping for items for my dorm room and dreaming about the types of friends I’d make.

I thought I knew who I was and who I wanted to be, but being in college has made me question everything all over again. The people you meet in college all seem to have their life together. They have start-ups they are working on or they are constantly getting hired for new and interesting jobs. I just felt like I needed to be more.

There were many times throughout this year that I tried to change who I was to fit my new environment. It didn’t work very well though, and I soon discovered that old me had a lot to contribute.

Of course, I’m not the same person that started a year ago, but the new me has a lot to thank the old me for. She really put me in a position where I could grow and change without the fear of others. My growth is also thanks to the wacky group of friends I made this year.

I don’t expect us to remain friends for the rest of my life, but I hold the lessons I’ve learned from all those people in my heart. And hope my college experience can stay as amazing as it was this year for the years to come.