On February 12th, I turned 19 years old. I have officially been considered a legal adult for a year now and had an extremely eventful time learning how to act as such. There is nothing of significant importance that happens when turning 19. Yet, it does mark my last year as a teenager, which still leaves two more years until I turn 21 and can legally drink in the U.S. There are no more lavish parties, over-the-top gifts, or phone calls from distance family members. I must say, I was extremely satisfied with the posts on my Facebook wall, tweets on Twitter, and the many "Happy Birthday" text messages.

I spent the night before my birthday with my roommates, cousin, and two friends from home. I woke up on my special day, went to my Friday class, drove home to visit my doctor, dropped off my friends at home and then went out to dinner with my parents and three younger brothers. I later got picked up and spent the rest of my night with my guy friends, the boys who've never failed to make me smile. Nothing extravagant. Just a good time with the people who matter most.

And as I become more and more thankful for these small gestures with my close circle, I think about how far I have come in these 19 years. Many milestones, many memories, many ups and many downs. I am so thankful for all I have and all that I can know I'll have tomorrow. In these 19 years, I've learned many lessons. So for those younger than me and even for those older, here are 19 life lessons I've learned in these 19 years:

1. Don't ruin a good day because of a bad yesterday.

2. Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.

3. You're not a mess. You're brave for trying.

4. A negative mind will never give you a positive life.

5. People don't notice as much as you think.

6. Bring a sweater.

7. Organized space, organized mind.

8. You can chose what you do, but you can't choose what you like to do.

9. What's fun for other people, may not be fun for you-- and vice versa.

10. You can profoundly change lives by stating your opinion.

11. Keep choosing joy.

12. Own up to your choices.

13. Act the way you want to feel.

14. What screws us up most in life is the picture in our head of how it is supposed to be.

15. It's better to break your own heart by leaving, rather than having that person break your heart everyday you're with them.

16. We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.

17. It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you ill be when you can't help it.

18. You will never influence the world by trying to be like it.

19. No matter the situation, never let your emotions overpower your intelligence.

These 19 lessons are lessons I have felt I resonate with deeply, words that I want to take in and live the rest of my life applying. There is no stopping the hard times, but there is embracing positivity. It will be looking up from there. Best of luck.