The jitters of freshman year have come and gone, and now new freshman have come to take my place. Upon entering the dorms for the first time, I had no idea what would lie ahead. College was a whole new ballgame, where the classes can be more difficult, friendships start from scratch, and real independence from your parents starts to settle in. A year ago, I never thought I would be so different, that college wouldn't change me that much and I'd still be the shy and weirdly awkward person I was. But boy, was I wrong.
It may have been the complete difference in class times, or the new friendships I seemed to find from people across the globe, but college and its experiences does change you into a whole new person. College has allowed me to grow, and to be more accepting of myself.
When I was in high school roughly two years ago, I had always tried to present myself in a way that made me blend into society, rather than stand out. High school is not the four best years of your life, no matter what they say. You are surrounded in a whirlwind of judgement, and are forced to constrict your mind and morals within the school system. However, college is a much more relaxed environment, at least in my opinion. Most people are more focused on their own individual work and classes than to even be concerned with how many people know them or what Sally wore last Tuesday. High school was a great time nonetheless, because everyone knew everybody, and we all lived so close. In college, your best friend can live across the hall during the year, but during the summer live on a different continent.
No matter what your past experiences, college is where you truly find yourself. Stepping onto campus for the first time, I thought that I would still be that shy girl until I got comfortable, which in some extent is still true. However, college has allowed me to expand my freedoms and really make judgement calls completely on my own, each with their various benefits and consequences.
You never really realize how much you change until you come back home, but usually it's for the better. And although we hate to say it, college is where we learn to become an adult in society and grow up. Inevitably, growing up is something that comes with each passing day, and although many of us never want to grow up, a year can help you grow fully and wholly into the person you're supposed to be.
So take chances, and let yourself grow into the person you were meant to be. A year flies by, so make each waking day count towards your bright future.
