I could not have predicted my freshman year of college. I could never have predicted all of the laughter that I have shared with such incredible people. I could not have predicted sitting on the beach at 2 in the morning, screaming my lungs dry while my cheeks burn with tears. I could not have predicted learning more about myself than I ever have before, and growing into a person who is so much stronger, independent, and mentally sound. As my year comes to a close, I often find myself reminiscing about the year, contemplating the most important things I had learned, and have boiled all of my trials down to 5 important lessons.

1. Stay curious, and question everything.

Don’t always take everything at their face value. Question things, and challenge the ideas that you don’t agree with. College is all about questions, developing them and doing our best to answer them. It is only through this questioning process that you will learn, make new discoveries, and further your studies. The day that you stop questioning is not the day that you know you’re the expert because even experts are always asking questions and trying to further their understanding. The day that you stop questioning, is the day that you know you’ve found comfort in mediocrity.

2. Don't be intimidated by those who know more than you.

This is especially true for your professors. They can be intimidating with their impressive degrees and seemingly endless knowledge but most of them are more eager to share this knowledge than they are pompous about it. Chances are, their eyes will light up when you ask about their expertise, they will overflow with jargon you don’t quite understand yet, but they will teach you. They are excited to teach you. In turn, some of them will end up being some of the most interesting and incredible individuals that you will ever meet.

3. By living in ignorance, you will do nothing to change the world.

Knowledge is painful, we know this. Depression rate is highest amongst intellectuals because they’re aware of the tragedies of the world, they lament for the human spirit, and they understand that with humanity comes destruction. But they are also the most likely candidates to take a stand and change a part of it. They face these atrocities that they see, they find ways to tackle problems that plague humanity. But by choosing to avoid learning about these painful issues, you will live a content life yes, but will it be meaningful? Will you be able to leave a true, genuine legacy? That's a decision you can make for yourself, but with a drive for change, will come pain. That's a sacrifice you have to choose to make.

4. The more that you learn, the less you will know.

I came to college to find myself and to understand my practice, but quite frankly I feel more lost than I ever have been; I often feel like I'm drowning in the complexity of my major. But that's exactly how it is supposed to be. With every new topic that you graze in your studies, the more doors will open to various other, more complex topics. It is undeniably terrifying truly understanding the vastness of what you don't know as a student, but it also makes you excited to tackle the journey.

5. Think out loud, and make yourself vulnerable. It will hurt sometimes, but it's worth it.

This was a quote from my Humanities Core teacher on our last day together. By opening our minds and thinking aloud, we are making ourselves vulnerable to ridicule, and sometimes that will happen; that's when it will hurt. But by staying quiet, we are achieving nothing, we are making no strides, we are not furthering human progress in any way. Let you ideas flow freely, find passion in everything you do, and do not be afraid of ridicule. It is more brave to open your mind than to remain silent.