Do you ever look back and try to pinpoint your life's defining moments? For me, most of those moments weren't that momentous at all. I can't attach singular memories to moments of personal grows, but I remember what they taught me.

As we wrap up the final month of the year, many of us will be looking back on what we've accomplished in 2018. Maybe you ran your first 5K, got accepted to college, or landed your dream internship. If so, you likely spent months preparing for those moments, methodically carrying out each step of your training or application. You likely encountered some obstacles along the way but overcame them with ease. The final result came with a concise "yes," and that was that. You met your goal.

If your winter break reflections aren't so comfortable, that doesn't mean there's nothing you can take away from your experiences. If your grandparents ask you about your major at their annual Christmas party and you're not sure how to answer, that gives you an excuse to push yourself and try something new. If a personal or professional project didn't turn out how you expected, figure out what you did well, and expand from there. Shooting for the moon and landing somewhere amongst the stars could be a blessing in disguise.

For me, 2018 has been a year I'll never forget. transitioning from high school to college has been challenging at times, but expanding my comfort zone has granted me more opportunities than I ever expected. The growing pains were just that: a sign of progression.

So while your grandparents are asking you about your major at that Christmas party, tell them about the psychology class you're excited to take next semester. Use your free time over break to spice up your resume, start a blog, or plan out your undergrad research project. A little persistence can go a long way.

If a door closes, it only means you weren't meant to walk through it. So don't dwell on your failures, smile knowing that you were meant to do something greater. You're far more capable than you think.