Recently, I have had a lot of time to think, reflect and evaluate my past, present and future. It’s the end of another year, one step closer to adulthood and time to reflect and grow from this past year’s experiences. I have accomplished a lot, made memories and like everyone, had my ups and downs this year. This is life; we succeed, fail, get back up and try again. This makes us human, but as a human being, we are programmed to be caring, have feelings and give love. So, here comes the challenging part: reflecting on what we have done but growing from it. How can we better ourselves without really coming to terms with the good and the bad in our lives, the actions we took and the decisions we made? Life is not always perfect and neither are we. That is why it is essential to take the time to decompress and always try to be better and do better than we did yesterday.

This might sound like a typical, basic girl thing, but lately, I have been watching the new "90210" because it’s always easier to judge other people’s decisions rather than our own. One common pattern I saw was the alienation and cruelty people bring to others. It does not matter what someone does or if you agree with it or not, it is never OK to alienate or be cruel to others. It got me thinking about how I have misunderstood someone’s actions and judged them for those decisions. We all do it, and maybe that’s why, to us, it comes as second nature and a repetitive concern. Reality shows and the media always judge others – their clothes, the words they speak, their actions – but that does not mean we can't stop the trend.

So, back to my self-reflecting. I have thought a lot about my friend, Liz Lothrop, for those who know her, for those who have seen how much she has impacted this world in her 21 years, the only words and memories you will see or hear from her, she was always kind. Even if you were a stranger in the hallway, her smile brought you two together, and she made you feel like you two were friends. I began to think about the legacy I have made for myself and what lasting impact I have made on my peers around me. The truth is: I am 20-years old, and I believe I have yet to make a lasting impact, but I am always willing to better myself, and one day, I will do something great, just like each and every one of you reading this because if you are still reading this, that just means you are willing to change and better yourselves.

Don’t get me wrong; college is fun, but at times, I feel as though that’s all it has been. We are in a bubble; we meet people and make them our friends, and we go to parties and sometimes even make decisions we hardly remember. At times, I can’t help but wonder if that’s all it is, and if I could do more because I know I want to. I have seen people do things they are not proud of, myself included. We are all still kids, living in a bubble that's not actually like the real world that one day we will be released into.

One day, I will figure out what my legacy is, what God planned for me to accomplish, but until that day, I will always try to better myself like I challenge each and every one of you to do. Don’t get me wrong, I will still make mistakes, and I will still mess up at times, but that is OK with me because I am human, but I will always strive to be better than I was yesterday. Be kind, stay humble, use your manners and always try to be the best version of yourself.

After this year, I made new, amazing friends who uplift and support me. I have realized my health has to come first. I have learned how and when to apologize. I have learned some friends are not friends but lessons learned. I have learned when to bite my tongue and when not to. I have learned to prioritize school, and my social life is not always essential. I have learned how to love and so much more, but I have also learned I am 20 years old. I am still a kid trying to find myself, my place and my legacy, and that is OK. Never lose yourself while trying to find yourself, or trying to hold onto something that's not what's best for you, but on the contrary, don't give up on something or someone if it makes you who you are or is what you love. We all could use a little more kindness in this world, and the only way we will find that is by starting with the one person who we can control: ourselves.