I arrived in the fall as an unsuspecting 18-year-old. I was unaware of what it really meant to live on the third floor of the dorm at the top of the hill, thought that the majority of learning was going to be academic, or that I was about to be launched into the whole new reality of college at a small liberal arts school.

I quickly grew to love it. I liked the independence and not having to go to the same classes everyday like I had in high school. I liked meeting new people and saying hi when I saw them around campus. I enjoyed exploring the campus (as small as it may be) and trying new things. My independence I soon found, came with the price of responsibility. I now had to choose when and what I ate, I had to do my own laundry, manage my money, and try to navigate the strange social sphere of college life.

Now that I am entering my final days as a first year, I realized how much I've changed and what a ride it's been. This year has been a whirlwind of studying, friends, dance, and more studying. I have embarrassed myself too many times to count. I laugh about it now, but sometimes we all need to be reminded that perfection is unattainable. Reminded that making mistakes is okay as long as we own up to them and learn from them.

I have learned what it feels like to be vulnerable with someone and have the door slammed in your face. And what it feels like afterward when you have to keep pretending you're okay until the one day you finally are okay. I have met people who have made me think critically about the world, who have challenged me to be better, to love more, to be present and to remember that there is more to life then just school and my GPA.

My friends have shown me what it means to be spontaneous. What it's like to run around in the rain on the quad and not care that you'll be soaking wet for study group. What it's like to watch three or four episodes of Law & Order SVU until two in the morning while eating homemade popcorn with butter and garlic salt. What it's like dancing for hours in the studio trying to make something beautiful, something that catches the essence of the music with the power and grace of your own body. We've sweated together, cried and laughed through the homework, stress, pain and the cafe food. This year has been full of book learning but more so full of experiences that have become a part of who I am, made me a stronger more confident person and built the foundation for who I want to become.

See you in the fall for round two!