My article for this week is pretty self-explanatory. While on the cusp of 2017, a new year filled with both fear and promise, I wanted to share some of the lessons I learned in 2016. Sixteen of them, to be exact. So, without further ado, here are the top sixteen things that I learned throughout the course of the year 2016.

1. A stable support system is everything.

In the past year, more than any other year, I have figured out who my true friends are. I learned that people who bring other people down probably don't have my back and, therefore, aren't worth my friendship. For more tips on finding your true friends, see You Deserve Better.

2. Be honest with people.

It's one of the worst feelings ever to be caught in a lie and, quite frankly, being anything other than truthful is just not worth the hassle.

3. Loyalty will carry you far.

If you are there for other people, than they are way more likely to want to be there for you. Creating meaningful relationships with others requires both honesty and loyalty.

4. Try new things.

Take a class that surprises you, join a sorority or fraternity, or talk to someone you normally wouldn't. I've had a lot of challenging and new experiences over the past year, and those have probably been the most rewarding experiences of my 2016.

5. Don't be afraid of failure.

Who cares if you look stupid? You'll regret not trying at all so much more.

6. Chase your passions.

No one else is going to do it for you, and your goals are not going to be achieved by daydreaming and wishful thinking. Get out there and do something for what you want!

7. But don't be afraid to admit when your passions have changed.

Sometimes you're wrong. Sometimes your whole life plan changes in a single day. It's okay to have no idea what you're doing. That is what this time in your life is for.

8. Don't be afraid to be yourself around the people you care about.

If they don't accept you for who you are, then they don't deserve your time.

9. You can't change what you feel.

Stop feeling ashamed of your sadness, anger, or frustration. You're allowed to feel down sometimes. The sooner you start facing up to your emotions instead of shoving them down, the better.

10. But you can control how you react.

Constant negativity is unnecessary and hindering. A positive mind yields so many possibilities. Positivity is not all unicorns and rainbows all the time, it's having hope and resilience even when everything seems to be going wrong. I don't care if self-deprecation and an apocalyptic attitude are “popular” or “relatable.” I'd rather have a healthy mindset than be either of those things.

11. Talk to people who have different opinions than you.

2016 has divided our country so much. At this point, everyone is so used to jumping to immediate conclusions about a person’s character from one fact or first impression that they've forgotten how to hear people out. Be educated about both sides to every argument. Be tolerant of others. Ignorance is bred when people surround themselves with others who agree on everything, while never bothering to talk to people who disagree with their opinions. Talk a little less and listen a little more. Don't make up your mind without having all of the information. You'd be surprised how many doors open-mindedness can open up.

12. Be friendly to everyone, even if they're not friendly to you.

“Kill them with kindness” may be a cliche, but that doesn't make it any less true.

13. Fight for the friendships you care about.

People aren't just going to wait around for you when you're putting no effort into your relationships. If you want to maintain meaningful friendships, then you're going to have to put some serious work in.

14. Be adaptable to change.

Major change is bound to happen in your life. When things don't go your way, the only two choices you have are to get on board and figure out what's next, or to sulk. I'll let you guess which is the more beneficial of the two.

15. People think about you way less than you think about yourself.

Nobody but you really cares all that much about your hair today. Get over it and focus your energy on something more important.

16. Confidence is half the battle.

If you can appear confident, then you can be confident, and confidence is much more likely to get your voice heard than hesitance.