When I graduated from high school, I thought I knew exactly who I was. I realize now that I thought this because I never had experienced any real challenges, especially not the kind that shake you at your core and mold the kind of individual you become. I had the same group of friends, I always had a constant support system around me, and I had all the opportunities I could ask for.

When I went to college, I found it difficult to adjust. I didn’t have those close, known-your-entire-life friends surrounding me anymore, it wasn’t easy for me to join the clubs I wanted, and I suffered personal and family issues as well. During that time in my life, I felt like I didn’t know myself at all, because if I wasn’t the girl I was in high school, then who was I? I’m not here to say that in two short semesters I’ve figured out this enigma and I am not quite sure that I even want to. I decided that the best way to deal with how I felt was just to do my best and trust that it would all fall into place.

I realized that you cannot come into college and expect to have the same life you lived as a senior in high school. While it all falls into place for some, it can take much longer for others. Comparison is the worst when you’re trying to figure out your place in a new environment. I found the best tool for me was to embrace where I was at that moment and trust that it would all work itself out. I grew in my ability to deal with my problems without a support system. I learned to stop tying my self worth to how many things were on my resume. More than anything, I grew from someone had a narrow view of a successful life to someone finds the most joy in doing my best.