Freshman year was full of firsts for me; it was my first time living on my own, my first year of college, my first time sharing a room with someone, and my first time having to deal with problems on my own, hundreds of miles away from home. I think that I’ve grown a good deal since I first stepped foot on campus, in ways I didn’t necessarily expect.

College seemed a bit strange to me at first. It was difficult for me to adjust to living at school, surrounded by people my own age 24 hours a day. I couldn’t quite figure out how to draw a line between school and my social life, and most weekends I usually ended up doing too much of one or the other. I had to learn balance; while here, I taught myself how to do everything in moderation and how to prioritize.

I learned how to organize myself. People who know me know that my notebooks, binders, desk, and room are constantly a mess, and unfortunately that hasn’t changed. However, I now keep an organized planner and get everything done in a timely fashion. Turning assignments in late isn’t an option in college, and I quickly adapted.

The most important lesson that college taught me, I think, is how to relax. I was constantly anxious in high school, having a desperate need to make good grades and participate in as many extracurricular activities as I possibly could. Realizing that sometimes I won’t make straight A’s or be the best at everything in which I participate has allowed me to stop defining myself by my GPA. I’m a lot happier now, because I’m enjoying learning about my interests instead of putting constant pressure on myself to be perfect.

My freshman year has been eventful, but in a good way. It’s strange to think that next year I will be an established college student, rather than in a state of transition. I know that there are still things to be learned and discovered, but what I learned this year will be a foundation for what I will learn next year, and I really can’t wait to see what college still has in store for me.