17 was a crazy year. Senior year of high school, college decisions, my sister's wedding, my first niece, and moving out. Looking back though, I am glad I went through all the stress and craziness because I learned so much from it.
1. It's O.K. not to fit in.
There is a LOT of pressure to fit in with the majority or your peers, but allowing yourself to fit where you are brings you much more personal satisfaction.
2. Finding your personality type can help you understand yourself, but it doesn't define you.
I love learning about personality types and how they affect the way one interacts with other people, but it is easy to get caught up in labeling yourself once you start.
3. Not every friend has to be your closest confidant.
I've known my three best friends since I can remember, so making friends after they moved was crazy hard. The hardest thing was realizing that my new friends aren't going to understand me as well as my old friends. Realizing that they don't have to be as close as my other friends, however, let me have fun with them without getting too serious.
4. Do the things you're scared to do.
I'm the type of person who is scared to do things outside of my comfort zone, but this year my goal was to do those things I've always wanted to do, even if it was awkward and uncomfortable at first. By doing this, I found my passion for sports photography, and I can't imagine not being on the sidelines this fall for my brother's football games.
5. No one can hurt you without your permission.
Being a kid who would cry over anything, I was determined to develop a bit of a backbone. When I found the quote "No one can hurt you without your permission" on Pinterest, I decided to make it my motto. There is no one preventing me from happiness in my life but myself, and I can't allow people to make me feel otherwise.
6. Take some time to not give a crap.
Every morning freshman year involved a hair straightener and a whole bunch of makeup my 14-year-old self couldn't use properly or well. Living with that stress for 2 years, I decided that I needed to break that habit. I did the #nomakeupnovember challenge and then challenged myself with taking a month off using heat on my hair. And guess what? I've become a happier person with my natural self and when I make myself up.
7. Don't be afraid to change your look!
Part of my goal for my senior year was to become more comfortable in the looks I've always liked on other girls. As a result, I got my hair balayaged, and I've started wearing lipsticks. They're small things, but growing the confidence to pull them off has made me feel so successful.
8. Learn to make friends.
I honestly have no advice for this one. Its hard and the process is different for each person, but do know that friends are out there if you pursue them.
9. Finding yourself is overrated.
Everyone claims that going to college helps you "find yourself". Now guaranteed, I've only been in college for a week, but I can say that I have not met a single person (freshman or otherwise) who is completely sure in him/herself. Finding yourself is a lifelong process, and we shouldn't be putting that pressure on ourselves.
10. Learning about yourself is always good.
Apart from finding yourself, learning small things about yourself can be useful, interesting, and hilarious. I've found that I can actually been incredibly outgoing when I'm awkward, I actually love the school year better than summer, and I like baking more than I like eating what I bake.
11. Standardized tests < GPA.
I will argue to my last breath that standardized tests are the worst and most ineffective exams the government has enforced upon us. I personally got a decent score on the ACT because I don't have test anxiety, but I know multiple people much smarter than me who have gotten worse ACT scores but have 4.0s. Don't let your score define you.
12. Get adventurous with music!
Listen to those albums, bands, and songs that your friends and siblings suggest. Trust me, you'll find something new that you like.
13. Working out can be fun.
I found my love for strength training my senior year and then ended up working with a personal trainer I knew. Not only did I start seeing results, but I also fell in love with it.
14. It's O.K. not to be the partier your friends are.
As opposed to most of my friends, I've never found any joy in parties. Here's the thing though, as much as your friends like to turn up, a Netflix and sweats weekend is never not needed.
15. Don't stop at the first college you love.
If you would've asked me a year ago where I was going to college, I would've told you Bowling Green State University. That was the first college visit I went on. A year later, and I'm attending Ashland University that's one third the size of BGSU.
16. It's O.K. to cry.
As much as I believe in having a strong backbone, everyone needs a good sob sometime, especially in major times of change.
17. Your siblings can be your best friends.
Only one of my 3 siblings lived at home when I was 17, but its crazy how being apart can help you grow closer. I can definitely say I get along much better now that we're older, even though we're all in different states.