Taking those first steps into your college dorm freshman year, you have no idea what to expect. There is so much in the unknown and so much you wouldn’t expect to happen that will. From roommate situations to class stress to discovering who you are when independent, there is too much to truly prepare yourself for.

When I first walked into my dorm I was already stressed about the idea of having to set up my room alone… so I had my mom and sister stay and help. Moment number one I was behind on the independent track. I had more of these moments but it takes baby steps.

As the semester went on, the strength grew. I was already gaining more confidence than I had in high school. I had gotten to go home twice my first semester and my family could already tell I was starting to grow.

First step was being smarter with picking my fights and deciding what was worth my time and what wasn’t. By second semester freshman year, I was better, still not great, but better at not letting myself get pushed around like I had in high school.

I was slowly starting to mature, looking back maybe not as much as I thought at the time. My ego got somewhat big as I was approaching my second year in school thinking I knew all I need to know.

Don’t worry, I was humbled fall of sophomore year. Each experience just became a learning moment and I continued growing more and more. After one year I could already tell I am not the same girl I was a year ago. My knowledge had expanded, my interests developed, and most importantly the number of learning experiences I had was too many to count.

Continuing in the fall I took on challenges I wasn’t ready for and experiences I didn’t think I would need to encounter. When faced with hard decisions your emotions are put to the test and sometimes you are the only one that can resolve it.

My heart and mind did not predict what they would face but they are stronger because of that. I always had a support wall made up of my family and closest friends and I have never felt like I was alone going through hard moments.

My biggest advice to those preparing for a new stage in life or currently experiencing this is to take a deep breath, relax, and trust your gut. It has been right 99% of the time for me. Through classes, personality conflicts, heartaches, and self-love I started at level one and now found myself at level ten in this game of life.