Everyone in college comes from a place where they were slightly different, and most people can say that they have changed tremendously since they graduated high school. I know in my personal experience, I changed so much since I graduated from high school. I am from a super small town where most people know everyone. Cleveland County, to me, is a county where you grow up there and that's it.

Growing up in a small town means you are surrounded by people who think they know you. Although, in reality, the only person who actually knows you is yourself and who you decide to allow know who you are.

High school and college are the times in your life that are filled with the most self-reflection. Every day you are faced with some type of obstacle that makes you think to yourself "why does this even bother me?" "what can I do to avoid this?"

I learned in just a little over a year, since graduation, just how much I have changed. In high school, I didn't give myself enough credit for the things I was doing, and I wasn't reaching my full potential in every aspect.

Stepping back to look back at the wrongs you did in your past are necessary for you to push yourself harder in your future. In high school, I closed myself off to where my only focuses were school and work. I lost many friendships and opportunities to make memories because I just wanted to get out of Cleveland County.

Don't get me wrong getting out of Cleveland County is still at the top of my list, but now instead I accept the opportunity to make memories when I can. Therefore, when I took a step back and reflected on my life, I knew from that moment on I wanted to let everything be either a lesson or a memory.

By stepping back and looking at the things I love most about myself and the things I wanted to change, I was able to step out of my shell when I got to East Carolina. Going to college is a huge milestone in an individual's life, when you get there you have to choose whether you want to fall into old habits or work your hardest to get past them.

Whether you are graduating from high school, graduating from college or just simply changing jobs, allow yourself to self-reflect so you can change yourself to be the best possible you.