Dear Freshman Year of College,

Thank you for being such an influential chapter in my life. I started this year as a nervous high school graduate with high hopes and millions of expectations, and you exceeded them all. As this year is rapidly coming to an end, I want to take the time to look back on the moments that have passed and the memories that were made.

Freshman year, you gave me the opportunity to live away from home for the first time in my life. Without the daily support and advice from my family, I had to learn how to take care of myself. I was pushed to become independent and responsible. Every choice I made was my own, there was no one watching over my shoulder to make sure I was doing the right things. Balancing homework, studying, laundry, extra-curricular activities, and finding time to just have fun is something a lot of new freshmen struggle with. But, you gave me the opportunity to do this and I succeeded. I learned so much about how life works and about who I am and who I want to be.

As I was living away from home, you provided me with the chance to live in a dorm with a roommate. I was so nervous about living with someone I didn't know because they didn't know me either. Would they be weird? Would they take showers? Would I be able to be myself around them? Luckily, all those fears were useless, because I ended up having nothing to be worried about.

Thank you, freshman year, for introducing me to one of my best friends. Living with someone who was basically a stranger to me at first, ended up being one of the greatest things about this year. I will always cherish the laughs, late night talks, and even some of the tears I've shared with my roommate.

Both in the classroom and throughout my day to day life this year, I learned how to have a strong work ethic no matter what else was going on. Whether I was missing home or wishing I could just lay down and watch Netflix, I knew whatever I wanted in the back of my mind had to wait; my school work and commitments had to be my priority.

This past year I learned when I had to keep pushing through the stress and when I had to give myself a break. Freshman year, you make us learn how to balance out our lives. I realized that I need to take part in classes and activities that matter to me. I learned how to balance the important classes I needed with the extra-curricular activities that I valued and enjoyed.

Freshman year, you have taught me so much. In my classrooms, I've become a better student, and in my social life, I've become a better friend. Everything I've experienced this year, I will carry with me for the rest of my life.