As you go through high school, people always say "oh, well, it will be different once you get to college," or "don't worry, college will be better." And you know what? They are right...kind of. College is what you make it. This is a lesson that I have learned, even though I am only a second semester freshman.

Before coming to my college, I hated going to school. Correction, I hated going to MY school. I could not stand the people there, nor what I went through daily, but I loved to learn. That is why, I tried to never let it bother me that I was "that shy, quite, tall girl." I never really was active, or really known in my high school. Maybe that's what I hated about it.

So, I thought, as most people do, that how life was for me was simply how it is, and I would have to live with it. I was wrong. Really Wrong. Coming to Wells College has proven to me that you can be who you want to be. It does not matter who you were last year, last month, or even last week. When you are in college, you get to be who you want to be, sometimes you don't even have to try.

Before I started my life as a Wells College student, I would go a full school day without saying a word to anyone. Coming here, I can't go a day without talking to multiple people, and even if I could, I wouldn't want to. That is because when you get to college, everyone cares by not caring. Here, you are able to dress how you want, talk to the people you want, spend your day (mostly) how you want. It is your life. You are finally free to make your own decisions.These decisions are what make you, you.

Now, being the shy, introverted, stubborn person I am, I would have never thought that I would be who I am now. Thanks to college, I am happy. I am able to talk to people about anything I want. People that I probably would have never even made eye-contact with back in high school, I now find myself being friends with, and sharing weird inside jokes. Here I am able to find a reason to smile everyday. I am able to be proud to call myself a student of my school. Here I can never have the same day twice.

College has taught me many things: it is possible to get yourself up and to an 8am class, even after staying up to 4am (however, it is not advised. It can simply be done), it is possible to have a voice that makes a difference, it is possible to have friends who care, it is possible to feel wanted, it is possible to be weird and still fit in, it is possible to be happy by being yourself. Being in college has taught me that its not weird, and you shouldn't feel uncomfortable sitting or eating alone.College has taught me the importance of actually scheduling everything to make sure it happens, this includes naps.

I know that not all colleges are like my college. Wells College is a special, unique, weird, and crazy place to go to live, and go to school. But I wouldn't want it any other way. This school has made me a person that has friends, and smiles often. This school has turned me into a person who is not ashamed to be me. This school has taught me that no matter what, there is good in people. This school has taught me, you can fit in. This school has taught me that while it is important to force yourself to do somethings at times, other times things will just happen that you find yourself loving. This school has taught me who I am.

This school may not be perfect, but no school is. Wells is the place where I became me. So listen to those who tell you that things will change. They are right. College does change you, and its a good thing. So here's to you Wells, and everyone that goes here, you have done what I thought was impossible; you have changed

And to think, I have only been at my school, of less than a thousand students, for less than a year. It just goes to show, that it is not the size of the school, nor how long you've been there. College does change you.