As I am now in my senior year of college of have come to realize something -- you can't pretend to be something you are not. Well, you can't pretend and STILL be happy. In college, everyone enters thinking how the next four years will be filled with amazing adventures, and while that's true nobody realized the power of these four years. They change you, define you and make you into the person you are today.

I am not saying you won't change after college, life is all about constantly changing, but college is the first time you really get a glimpse at who you are. So why would you pretend to be anything else?d

I think people get so caught up in trying to please other people, attack other people for wrong doings, or try to act like someone else that they loose sight of what's important. We are all human beings and the only thing you have control over is how you treat other people and yourself.

Never apologize for being true to your values, feelings and actions. If you want to stay home and binge watch Netflix on a Saturday do it! But on the flip side, if you want to go out and have a good time - go! Just do what makes you happy.

That's why you need to be the best YOU that you can be. I know that sounds like a tongue twister, but it is the simple truth. You should never change yourself for someone else. You should never do something you don't want to do just because you think other people want you to. And you should never let what someone thinks of you change what you think of you.

There is so much violence and anger in the world right now. People look at others and try to place blame instead of stepping up and doing something themselves. We only get to do this once. We have one life so why would you ever spend it pretending to be something you aren't?

Do things you want to do. Be proud of the decisions and actions you take and let them define you. Love yourself and be uniquely and unapologetically YOU.

For the first time in your life, you get to find out who you want to be and who exactly you are. You get to define yourself, so make sure that person is someone you love and genuinely you.

Perhaps it's the Butler girl in me, but BU is something that everyone should live by. It is such a simple idea, but in today's world, I think this idea gets lost. Everyone is so busy comparing themselves to other people, nobody stops to think about how being yourself is what truly matters.

So I challenge you to be the best YOU you can be. I for one can't wait to see who that turns out to be.