The start of a new year always puts me in a nostalgic mood. The months spent in school speed by leaving little time for reflection, but winter break allows me to make the time to contemplate the finished semesters and digest the events that took place.

This past year has been a roller coaster, to say the least.

It was my first full year of college (shoutout to my fellow spring admits!) and it was filled with enough uncertainties to last a lifetime. In-between wondering whether I still wanted to pursue my major, and re-learning how to make new friends, the first couple months at USC were hectic and confusing, yet now these troubles couldn't be further from my list of stressors. The issues I faced in the beginning of 2018 aren't memorable anymore, and it's calming to know my current issues will either be resolved or forgotten a year from today.

Here are some of the lessons I've learned while enjoying my semester off and this past school year:

This advice may seem overstated and obvious to some readers, but actually believing in the points and incorporating them into daily life can be extremely beneficial. As someone who overthinks every situation and stresses out over every assignment, sometimes something as small as taking a step back to reevaluate is more helpful than can be articulated, and I encourage everyone to adopt these mindset hacks.