You're at an exciting time in your life; you're about to graduate high school and are either super excited or super nervous for the next step you're about to take. You've probably heard this from many people before me but don't take these next few years for granted, they'll be the quickest, but best ones of your life. You may assume I'm about to tell you how fun and awesome college life is, and I'll tell you that's the truth; however, what's made my three years at college so far so amazing has been the people I've been grateful enough to meet, what I accomplished, and my growth as a person.

The first piece of advice my parents had given me going into my freshman year of college was that the friends I was about to make were going to be my friends for life. I one hundred percent believed my parents because I'd seen it with them, and today I can say I found those people. What I didn't believe was when they added that I wouldn't still be close with my high school friends years from now. I laughed when they said this but now years later I'll admit that I'm not friends with all of the people I used to be. It is completely okay and normal for people to grow out of each other and there be no bad feelings that come with it. Most college students will admit to this and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. I'm not at all saying you won't be friends with anyone from high school; I'm lucky enough to say I still have multiple best friends from high school who mean the absolute world to me. While distance can be hard on some friendships which is a common fear going into college, believe that everything happens for a reason and the friendships you are able to keep are the ones meant to stay.

You'll meet some pretty important people in college. The people you'll meet in college will see you at your absolute best and absolute worst and still cherish you. Everyone you meet will come from somewhere different and have a completely different past than you but that's what makes college friends unique. My college friends are all completely different people and I'm able to go to each of them for different things. Whether it be someone to listen to my rants, someone to let me cry on their shoulder, someone to give me the hard advice I need to hear, or just someone to make me laugh, I have friends who are there for that and you'll find those friends too.

College is all about involvement. Coming from someone used to be hesitant to try new things, I recommend you drop that fear in college. There are hundreds of clubs offered at every university and are open to pretty much anyone. You may think you'll have no free time in college but you'll have more than you think and clubs are the best way to not only fill up your calendar but also meet new people. The organizations I'm a part of have not only introduced me to so many amazing individuals but also helped me gain confidence in myself and my abilities. Many clubs offer leadership positions that give you valuable communication, networking, and public speaking skills. Being as shy as I was in high school, I would not have pictured myself transforming into someone who's doing what I am today. So get involved and get excited; you'll see your confidence grow like you never thought it would.

Whether you know what you want to major in yet or not, take a deep breath and understand that that is okay. Many people change their majors in college and odds are you will still graduate on time. I had no idea what I wanted to do coming into college and after changing my major my second year, my advisor recommended that I take a minor in something I would never have even thought to minor in. After making some adjustments and picking up another minor along the way, here I am set to graduate on time next spring as a Communications Major with a Strategic Communications Concentration and three minors. I can say I'm proud of myself for accomplishing what I have so far and if you can keep that same positive mindset that everything will work out in the end and you are confident in the path you are on, then you're on the way to a happy and successful college experience.

So don't be afraid of this next step, be excited. Throughout these next few years, you're going to discover the people who truly matter in your life and accomplish so much. You're going to change, but for the better. You'll gain confidence in yourself and your abilities and if you haven't yet, learn what you want to do with your life even if it takes a couple adjustments along the way. Finally, you'll make so many amazing memories. Entering my last year of college, I'm eager to spend it with the amazing friends I've made and prepare for my life after graduation. Thanks to these last three years, I have courage that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be, and when you've spent three amazing years at the college you love and your senior year creeps up on you, I hope you feel the same.

From a now college senior, I wish you the best freshman year and college experience.