As my senior year approaches, I am filled with so many emotions. I frantically prepare myself for my last year, applying for internships, making class schedules as well as making list after list about my future (because this will somehow make me feel better). As things are coming to an end I begin to remise on the "good ole days". I cipher through my tally photo album on my computer to realize how much these past three years have changed me.

College definitely has its ups and downs, and let me tell you, it can get pretty rough at times. All in all, it has shaped me to the person I am today and that I wouldn't change for anything.

When you're a freshman your mind starts to get caught up in preexisting notions about what college is supposed to be like. what I've learned it's noting and everything you expected. My advice is to not look at movies as a form of reference. Take any college movie ever made and dial it back 10 times and maybe you'll come close to what to expect. Maybe. The truth is its everything you make it out to be.

There are a few things that are guaranteed, there will be times that your heart gets broken, whether it's from your "mean" professor whose mission is to make you unhappy (so you think), or the frat guy who doesn't seem to notice you.

Been there done that.

The professor will teach you that life doesn't just come at with a cherry on top, sometimes there will be no cherry. Sounds terrible I know, but its worth the fight. Finally, to frat guy thank you for teaching me so many life lessons.

I have learned from all my mistakes. What I've come to realize is:

1. You may fail a few classes and it's okay.

2. you may change your major for the third time in the past year and its okay.

3. You will lose some friends, but you will gain many new ones. I promise.

4. Its okay not to know anything about your future (like at all).

5. The best we can do in life is try, and fail, then try again.

College is for learning and growing inside and out of the classroom. The experiences and the people you encounter will follow you through your life. My advice is to make life happen instead of stressing about it. Keep moving forward and things will fall into place. Of course, no matter how hard you try stress always seems to be there. That's also a good thing, it means you care and what you're doing is meaningful. Simplistically, don't sweat the small stuff and persevere for what you want. (boom college made easy)

For me, the college has been a HUGE learning experience. You may enter college this scared and excited kid trying to figure out what life is. You think this will change in your senior year. NOPE. Still scared over here, but I've realized that its okay. The experiences and people you meet in college will carry you through the good and the bad. Along the way, you find yourself and all the silly things you thought were important fade away.