The ball has been dropped, cheers and delighted squeals fill the room. Hugs are distributed all around. But something is missing. Auld Lang Syne can't be heard over the hopeful chatter of the New Year's promises. The familiar, compatible silence cannot be found here, in this place full of youth and excitement for life. Changes are approaching, so now is as good a time as any to step out of my comfort zone.

A new year is once again under way. But this is not just any other year. This is the year I put on that cap and gown, stand up from my seat, walk across that stage and accept the single most expensive piece of paper I have ever worked towards. This is the year I have a series of "lasts." My last semester as an undergraduate, my last semester living with some of my best friends, my last semester of reckless freedom; late nights talking about everything and nothing, pizza stops after we hit the bar, spontaneous trips for cheesesteaks, trips to NYC... the list goes on and on.

What a funny thing to imagine not spending every minute together, friends that have become family no longer a bus stop, or closer, away. Suddenly, it's like we closed our eyes and now everything is coming to an end.

This is also the year I have to show the world I didn't waste my four years in college learning how to binge-watch obscene amounts of Netflix, stretching a meal into three days, and building up my tolerance (for many things). Numerous doors will be open and I just have to pick which one I want to open first.

And along with the positive change, comes negative change as well. 2016 wrapped up, with shocking statistics. friendships at an all-time low, the loss of those closest to us still felt in the late hours of the night as the sun sleeps. Timing is everything and though a new year can't promise rekindling of friendships or a quick fix, it does provide a sort of clean slate. We are all moving forward, and if you find yourself missing an old friend, think about what went wrong and if you are willing to make some changes, add them to your resolutions.

In the end, every year will be a big year from here on out. Life's milestones' may not have a specific date, so we must be ready at all times to accept the new things that come our way. And to all my classmates of the Class of 2017, this is our year. So I'll see you at the bars for Trivia Tuesday and Karaoke. And I cannot wait to see you all at Club Alex in May-- our dream come true.

Hug your roommates, hit the books and let's move, move, move. A friend once told me that the power is yours, so embrace it.