This year was a year filled with great memories, new experiences, and so many lessons learned. They say we become a bit wiser with every passing year, and although it sounds cliche, 2015 was no exception. Everything I've experienced this year, both good and bad, has taught me some kind of lesson that will change the way I live my life next year and every year to come. Here are the most valuable lessons I have learned in 2015:
Always be open to trying new things, and don't let overthinking get in your way.
If you allow yourself to do so, you can overthink your way out of any situation. That's not a good way to live life; you should allow yourself to be open to trying new things, even if they may not seem like the best idea after hours of nonstop thinking. Sometimes it's good to be a little impulsive, as long as it isn't causing any harm to yourself or others. If you don't experience anything new, you're not allowing yourself to grow, and you're almost forcing yourself to live the same mundane, planned out life. It's much better to branch out and live a little.
You can achieve anything you want if you want it badly enough and work hard enough.
In 2015, I had the two most difficult semesters I've ever experienced. Between a semester of A&P and biochem and then starting my first semester of nursing school, I wasn't sure that I would finish with a decent GPA. Succeeding in my classes was my highest priority of the year, and with an immeasurable amount of studying and hard work, I finished both semesters with the grades I wanted. I achieved a seemingly impossible goal, and I know I can achieve just about anything if I devote the same amount of time and effort to other situations.
Bad choices are not to be made often, but when they are made, they make for great memories.
Sometimes you have to make mistakes, even if you know that they're mistakes. Every once in a while, you're inevitably going to act young and stupid. The bad choices you make in life will make for the best stories to tell and the best memories to look back on. Bad decisions are sometimes unavoidable, especially in college, so you might as well make the best of them and enjoy them for what they are.
In order to have the future you deserve, you have to forgive the people who have wronged you in the past.
I've had my fair share of poor treatment from others this year, but that doesn't mean I'm going to hold grudges toward the people who have wronged me. If you don't forgive others, you're robbing yourself of the future you deserve by clinging to past disputes. No matter how difficult it is at first, you have to forgive, forget, and move on.
Family and true friends are the only people you need.
2015 was the year that I discovered my true friends. I learned which people were there for me when I needed them most, and I am so grateful for their help and support in all the years I've known them. I would be lost without the guidance of my true friends and my family. Good friends are always there when you need someone to vent to, and they can help you through anything. Family members are true friends that you're stuck with forever, and they're also the most important people you'll ever have.
Experience every moment to its fullest.
No matter what you're doing, make sure you're enjoying it. Each moment that passes is one that you'll never get back, so why waste time by not loving what you do? 2015 flew by and every year to follow will likely feel like it went by just as fast, which is all the more reason to take a step back once in a while and ensure that you're enjoying everything you're doing.
Your strength will surprise you.
When you face hardships of any kind, you can either choose to power through it or it or fall apart. When you decide to overcome a difficult situation, you will be taken aback by the amount of strength you have. They say you don't know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have, and although it's slightly cheesy, that statement couldn't be more true.
Have confidence in yourself; if you don't, no one will.
First and foremost, you have to believe in yourself, your abilities, and your worth. If you don't, it will be difficult for other people to believe in you. If you are constantly doubtful of yourself, others will begin to doubt you too. You shouldn't have to depend on others to tell you how great you are or what you can accomplish; you should know those things yourself. Having a strong sense of worth will take you far in getting what you deserve out of life.
Take advantage of every opportunity you can.
When an opportunity comes to do something that you enjoy or that will have a positive impact on your life, take it without a second thought. Take on everything you think you can handle, because any opportunity for achievement, personal growth, or enjoyment is worth taking. Life is too short to be bored and unproductive.
Become exactly who you want to be.
This year, I went through many events that ultimately helped me decide the person that I want to become. I experienced difficult situations that I never imagined having to deal with, but ones that I would not undo because without them, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I wouldn't be the person I've always wanted to be, because if it wasn't for events that transpired this year, I wouldn't have even known who that person was. Hardships helped me realize who I wanted to become, and I'm slowly but surely getting to that point. I am so thankful for every great moment and every disheartening moment in 2015, because they all led to a self-discovery that I would have otherwise not been able to find.
Here's to a great 2015 and an even better 2016!
