Each year situations, people and events are presented in your life for the sole purpose of teaching you something. I am a firm believer that everything in life is either a lesson or a blessing and in order to grow you must endure hard times. There are so many things that I have come to realize in the last four years that ultimately changed my perspective on how to live my life happily.

1. You will promise to be best friends forever, but some people will leave you.

At this point in my life, this lesson has become very important. When you turn 18 there are so many things that change, for one, you graduate highschool. With this huge sigh of relief (no more waking up at 6am everyday) also comes many worries. For the first time, you’re changing your surroundings, going to college, the military, trade school, the work force and leaving the only place you’ve ever known. In these times it becomes apparent who will stand by you and who won’t. Pro tip: either way, you’re going to be okay.

2. It’s never worth losing a friend over a boy.

I know it sounds cliché, but one of the most important things I’ve learned is that the whole “boys will come and go but bestfriends are forever” thing is beyond true. Remember to stick by your friends even when a boy comes into your life because they have always been there for you and chances are, they will be for a lot longer than he will.

3. Drama is pointless.

Trust me, I know what you’re thinking. It’s unavoidable, right? Truthfully, yes there is drama everywhere but it’s knowing when to walk away from it that is important.

4. No one is perfect, so stop having impossible expectations.

Everyone is flawed, it is one of the things that make life so beautiful. Every person you meet is going to be different, show you a different perspective, teach you a different lesson. It is so impeccably important to not judge people, get to know someone and all they have to offer. Remember: even you, yeah you reading this right now, have flaws but flaws are what make the person. So accept someone for all they are and all they are not, it makes life so much more enjoyable.

5. Everyone has their own obstacles in life

You know those people that just always seem like they have it together? No matter what, their life is just so perfect? Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret… I can promise you it isn’t. Everyone has hardships, everyone has obstacles to overcome. In fact, the people who seem like they have it the most together are usually the people who are fighting the hardest to overcome something. Therefore be nice to everyone! It’s time we start realizing that building each other up is much more useful than trying to tear each other down.

6. Feelings can be confusing

If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that your heart and mind don’t always agree. This predicament can get you in trouble because you have to decide which to listen to. I still haven’t exactly figured it out, but I have learned that no matter what you decide, it’s for the best. Why? Because everything happens for a reason.

7. Positivity goes a long way

In any bad time in life, there’s one thing that always makes it better; positivity. Whether it is being positive yourself or having a friend who’s positivity is contagious, it’s one of those things where it can never make it worse. Positivity makes for a much happier, lively life.

8. Sometimes you never know who someone truly is

It’s easy to think you know someone, think you know everything about who they are and who they want to be. One of the hardest concepts I’ve ever had to grasp is sometimes you don’t actually know them, you know the person they want you to think they are. There is no warning sign for this, no label saying “Alert this is not who they really are” and it is not written on their forehead. As much as this can be upsetting, it’s bound to happen and when it does it is so important to remember it isn’t your fault and things are going to be okay. Most importantly don’t let this stop you from trying to connect with people.

9. Be your own best friend

It is so important to remember to make yourself a priority. The way I see it, you have to learn to love yourself before you could possibly love someone else. Also think of it this way, if you can’t love every part of who you are, why would you expect someone to do it for you? Please remember to embrace who you are, love every part of yourself because everyone is beautiful in their own way.

10. Change is inevitable, don’t let that defeat you

Things change every day. Whether it’s a minor change or a major life changing event, our days are never exactly the same. While this is exciting it can also be absolutely terrifying. You may feel some things are changing for the worse but in the end, I promise you that once again…everything happens for a reason. If you’re in a dark place where you feel like your life is spinning out of control and you can’t do anything about it, remember everything always does and always will work itself out.

Although most of these lessons were hard to learn, they have taught me so much that I will always remember.