Since this is the Spring Semester of my Sophomore Year, I thought I would just reflect on certain lessons that I have learned so far in college.

1. Time is Important.

Freshman year seemed so long ago, but now that I think about it, I spent a lot of time doing nothing.I have all this time that I could have done my homework or prepared for work, but I just didn't do it.

Now, cherishing friends and being around people you love is more important than ever. I have learned to stop wasting my time (through trial and error). I mean, we all know what it's like to just skip a class, but now I don't want to. I want to actually be engaged in my learning, otherwise, what is the point of me being here?

2. It's Okay to Rest.

You don't always have to jump the gun on every little thing. You are not an octopus, you can't do eight things at once. It's alright if you want to slow down and take some time for yourself. You're not in a competition with someone to be the most involved person in the entire world. Learn to moderate your personal and professional life so that you won't feel like murdering someone at the end of the day.

3. 'No' should be the most used word in your vocabulary.

Again, adding to the point of the previous one, you don't want to overwhelm yourself, otherwise, you might possibly die. Well, learn how to say 'No.' It took me a long time to get used to saying this but the idea slowly became my secret weapon. "No, I will not work on the weekend," "No, I will not stay for another hour of rehearsal when I'm not even in the scene you're working on."

"No, I will not drink on a Monday." "No, I'm not going to give you the answers." After saying no multiple times, I suddenly started to realize that I was myself again. Saying "Yes" all the time made me feel like a robot. So it's okay to say "No," and if people get mad, they can stay mad. Don't ask me why. No is a complete sentence.

4. Friends are essential.

Even though your GPA is important, friendships are just as important too. I had a crisis where I thought nobody liked me because I only saw them in the Music Department building and no where else. Well, all that changed this year. Being sociable with other people is an essential part of being a human being. Especially a human being who is away in college and trying to get away from their family. The friends you make are your family and telling them what's on your mind and hanging out with them makes all the difference.

5. Be Honest About Your Feelings

Don't hold anything back. All that will do is hurt you in the end. Having a good support system and having people say that they will do anything for you really does make a difference in a person's life. I am thankful that I have the support system to be honest about my feelings and to stay true to myself. Life can get so rough sometimes that we forget that we are the only ones making our lives so harsh. So just live a little, ya know?