Don't get me wrong, I definitely love having the opportunity to go to college. I wouldn't trade it for anything. But there comes a time in every college students life where they reflect on the person they were before college. There were probably so many things they did before school took up too much of their time.

I loved the person I was in high school. I was always reading for fun. I always kept up to date with every novel that my favorite authors were releasing. Now I can't even remember the last time I even picked up a book. I was a musician in my high school band. I was so involved in the band program and was on the path to becoming a music major until I was talked out of it. I was a part of a band in college for two years, then dropped music completely because it took up way too much of my time.

Finding myself in my passions is difficult in college. The only chance I can listen to my favorite songs is when I'm walking to class when I can't truly enjoy it. The only time I watch a movie or TV show is when I need background noise while I'm knee deep in something else.

But, as much as I hate not being able to continue my high school hobbies, I can't help but be thankful for the person I'm becoming and the new habits that I'm picking up. I have really sunk myself into a major that I love and am good at. And when that's the case, who cares if I don't have time for much else. I have my focus in the right place.

College is a time where you discover who you really are and discard anything you're not. It's okay to become a person unrecognizable to the one you were in high school. It's all part of this crazy story called life.

I do miss my high school days where I dove deep into the arts, but I was not as independent and focused as I am now. My growth is a symbol of gaining maturity and deciding that my old childish habits are not on track to where I'm going.

I am so proud of the person I'm becoming. I applaud her!