The year 2016 was the year I turned 18. The year 2016 was my last year of high school. The year 2016 was the year I graduated high school with my boyfriend who I've had a crush on since the 5th grade. The year 2016 was the year my love-life got shattered into a million pieces. The year 2016 was the year I started and completed my first semester of college. Those are only a few of the highlights of my 2016. There was so much more that happened that I can't remember it all but it made me who I am today. The year 2017 is upon us and I'm ready. During my first semester of college, my psychology professor told me about 20% of our life is out of our hands, and the rest is in our control.

Everyone thinks that just because it's going to be a new year, our life will suddenly be improved. I'm not waiting for 2017 to be a better person. I believe every day is a blessing because no one is promised tomorrow. I learned that when my grandmother passed away. Everyday I wake up thinking, "What can I do to make it a great day?" My father and I text each other every so often and we always tell each other, "Make it a great day."

I understand that life can throw some unexpected hits at you and it get can tiresome. Someone once told me whenever I feel low, cry until you can no longer cry. Once you are done, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you can do it. No matter what it is, you can reach it. Life, for the most part, is what you make it. You get back what you give in. If you do only the bare minimum to survive then that's what you'll get. If you want to live a fulfilling life and travel and not just have to work a meaningless job to get by, then you have to make sacrifices. You have to work overtime, stay in to finish assignments, save money to buy a house, go to the gym to be healthy, or even go to school even when you don't feel your best. We don't realize how much we can endure and what we are capable of if we never try.

Don't let another day pass by where you're just on the couch, complaining about how life is unfair. Not everyone is fortunate like you and me. Not everyone has a home, clothes that fit, clean water, a warm bed, or a loving family. We all face challenges every day, some bigger than others, but you choose whether you let those problems break you down or build you up. Let those obstacles push you to want better, to do better, to be better.

As a psychologist in the making, my job is to help improve the quality of life. As Samantha, my passion is to help people find happiness.