2015 was definitely a year full of lessons- both good and bad. From graduating high school to moving away to college and everything in between, 2015 was a year of learning and growing for me.

1. People suck sometimes.

And there is literally nothing you can do to change that. Sometimes people are going to be mean to you and hurt your feelings and then they’ll probably keep kicking you while you’re down. You can try retaliation and fighting back (and believe me I’ve tried that a few times this year), but the most effective thing you can do is put a smile on your face and not care.

2. You need your parents a lot more than you think you do.

It’s funny how it took me moving out of my house and two hours away to college to realize this. For all of my high school years, I wanted the freedom of living on my own but now that mom and dad aren’t two doors down the hall, I find myself calling them 15 times a day… each (sorry guys, I know I’m annoying when I ask how long it’s okay to go without doing laundry or if I’ll die from eating the week-old Mexican leftovers in the fridge).

3. It’s okay to be sad, but it’s not okay to stay sad.

Last year was a year of heartbreak for me and if I learned anything, it’s that laying at home in your bed crying yourself to sleep does not make you feel any better. It makes you feel a thousand times worse. Go out and get ice cream with your friends or shut your phone off and spend a day at the movies with your family. Your life shouldn’t stop just because your relationship did.

4. It never has and never will matter what those mean girls in high school thought of you.

You’re going to go off to college, make new friends, and you will barely remember any of the things those girls did to you. Plus, it’s a pretty awesome feeling coming home for Christmas break and seeing those mean girls in the same exact place doing the same exact thing they have since high school ended while you’re off at college living it up and making something of yourself. Trust me, you’ll regret being mean to me when I’m your boss one day.

5. The older you get, the more important it is that you take care of yourself.

You can’t keep eating fast food for every meal and you should probably become friends with the gym. If not, it’s going to catch up to you, promise.

6. College is way different than high school.

You actually have to study and teachers aren’t going to care if you don’t do the homework, they’ll just fail you. Take some initiative and want to do well for yourself, not because you have parents and teachers breathing down your neck telling you to do well.

7. The boy you date in high school is not the boy you’re going to marry.

Spoiler alert: there’s way better things waiting for you in life beyond the boy on the football team.

8. And when that falls apart, take some time to be single and figure out who you are and what kind of person you want to be with.

Take some time to love and heal yourself before jumping in to a new relationship.

9. Being an adult can be hard sometimes so cherish and enjoy your time at home with your parents when you still get to be a kid.

Your priorities go from hanging out with your friends and going to football games on Friday night to doing laundry, buying groceries, and pulling all-nighters to write papers.

10. It’s great to make new friends, but keep your old high school friends close.

Don’t forget the ones that helped get you through some of the hardest times of your teenager years and who came to your rescue when you needed them most.

11. Growing up can be hard, but it’s a lot of fun, too.

Sure, there are nights you’ll miss home, but there’s going to be way more nights filled with laughter and crazy adventures with your friends. Live it up; you only get to be young once.

12. If people treat you like crap, kick them to the curb. If your presence doesn’t affect them, maybe your absence will.

Sometimes you have to let people live without you for awhile to fully appreciate what you bring to their life.

13. Demand respect and don’t settle for anything else- from boys, from your friends, from your family, from everyone.

But make sure you give the respect in return.

14. Things you do will always come back to haunt you so be extremely careful how you carry yourself when you’re out having fun with your friends.

In this day and age, 99% of the embarrassing things you do will be documented in some way, shape, or form. Ten years from now, your boss won’t care that you were extremely intoxicated at a frat party in college just trying to have fun with your friends. They’ll care that there is photo evidence of it following you around forever and I promise you don’t want to live with that forever.

15. Stay classy.

It’s so much easier to be respected if you respect yourself and that you make sure everyone knows that. Self worth is key, my friends.

Here’s to even more life lessons in 2016!