1. Graduated high school.
Sure, to some, this might not seem like a big deal but it is something so precious to me. I graduated high school with my best friends by my side and a diploma. It is a feeling I will never forget.
2. Got accepted into college
Getting accepted into college was a surreal rush of emotions, all my work from the past four years had finally paid off and it showed. I was beyond ready to further my education and meet new people.
3. Dated someone bad for me.
While I would not wish this experience on anyone, I am so happy it happened to me. In the long run, I was able to see how wrong they were for me and it allowed me to dive into an exploration of self-love and care.
4. Went to concerts.
The rush of seeing your favorite band live is exhilarating. Being among crowds of people who come together for a mutual reason is just incredible. It opened me up to a world outside of my little bubble.
5. Got over the break up I thought would ruin me.
At the time, it felt as if the pain was going to last forever, that I would not be OK without that other person; however, as time went on, I found that to be far from the truth. It showed me exactly how strong I am and encouraged me to be my own person who is not dependent on someone else.
6. Rebelled.
Between dying my hair dramatically, cutting it all off, and piercing my nose without my mom knowing (sorry again!), I'm happy I did it before I turned 20. Now is the time in my life when I need to become (a little bit more) mature.
7. Learned to respect myself.
If you don't respect yourself, no one will. Self-respect is not the amount of lack of clothes you wear, its not about the activities you decide to take part in on the weekends, it's about self-love. The second I learned that lesson, my life had changed. I demand respect from everyone I meet and if they can't provide, they weren't good for me anyways.
8. Appreciated the beauty of my home state.
Beauty is everywhere and comes in different shapes and sizes. Taking in whats around me and loving every second of it is so very precious to me. I love my state, I love every single part of it.
9. Made hard life choices that turned out to be the best decisions I've ever made.
Spending days, weeks, even months to decide on something that could have potentially changed my life for good or bad. Taking the chance was worth it and showed me to take chances, so much unexpected good can come when you have a little faith.
10. Lost a loved one.
Losing a loved one is one of the absolute hardest life experiences to go through. I am thankful that I know what true loss feels like, it showed me that you never know what could happen and to always be kind to others.
11. Lost a best friend.
Best friends are your rock that anchor you down. Losing one is like a losing a piece of yourself. Instead of staying hurt, it just taught me to treasure true friends and to never stop treating them like the beautiful people they are.
12. Grew a new appreciation for my parents and grandparents.
I always appreciated and loved my family but not as much as I do now. Sitting back and realizing how lucky I am to have such an incredible support system leaves me speechless. Knowing I always have someone in my corner makes me feel reassured in times of trouble and I don't know what I'd do without them.
13. Attended my Senior prom.
Every girl deserves to feel like a princess and every guy deserves to look as fly as he wants. Dancing the night away with my class was on of the best nights of my life.
14. Met my friend soulmate.
I'm a firm believer in soulmates and I am over the moon that I finally found mine on a small college campus.
15. Realized fairytales are not real.
There is no such thing as Prince Charming who will save you. You have to save yourself and that is more beautiful than any fairytale I've heard of.
16. Went to summer camp.
Setting aside a few weeks in the summer to be a kid again was the best part of my life growing up but there comes a time when you have to say goodbye. There are so many opportunities such as internships and summer jobs that will better benefit me in the long run which sadly, means camp is not an option. I'm glad I was able to have those weeks every summer and it will be something I cherish for the rest of my life.
17. Dated someone good for me.
It might have ended in a break-up and I might have been heartbroken but you showed me how I deserved to be loved. That's something I can never pay you back for and I can not thank you enough for letting me go so I can give my all to someone who will appreciate it more.
18. Stopped seeking revenge.
Why get even with people who don't care if they're hurting you? I stopped concerning myself with "getting even" and started focusing on myself instead of stooping to their level.
19. It's OK to be happily alone.
I no longer look for a guy. I go have fun with friends and focus on my studies. Bettering myself for the right one will pay off when he comes around.
20. Made life-long friends.
I will never be able to express just how much these individuals mean to me. From high school football and basketball games to our first day of college, we have been by each others' sides. Not a day goes by that I don't talk to them. God blessed me greatly by giving me such irreplaceable friends. I will forever be grateful for our friendship.
