People continue to say, "Pshh three years of your life, that's nothing!" Yet, this hasn't seemed to prove true at all. Yes, I understand that in the grand scheme of life, these few years appear ephemeral. Although, these last three years offered a unique learning experience that had one of the most significant impacts on my life. Whether it was relishing in moments of achievement or pondering in the mistakes that merely helped you grow.

College, where one finds themselves diving into adventure as much as the textbooks, seizing the moment as easily we'd study for exams. However, I will not deny my college experience wouldn't necessarily be described as traditional based on the stereotypes of American Pie or Sydney White.

Needless to say, college exceeded my expectations. While I commuted every day and lived at home with my mom and pops, I felt like a some Martain as an outsider. I fell in love with the school, my educational path, God's grace, and most importantly the people. Attending GCU, God has blessed our students to attend such a diverse, vivacious culture. If I didn't make the decisions I made, the mistakes that I thought were the end of the world, or the fearless leaps of risking everything, then I wouldn't have made it here.

I wouldn't have made it across the stage, diploma in hand, walking with the dopiest smile slapped across my face. To get here wasn't anything short of climbing Mount Everest -- motivation literally driving you, or caffeine, depending on the time in the semester. Yet these weren't the only tools for survival. In hopes of spreading some wisdom that took quite a long time to learn (an entire college career), maybe this could benefit you during your college journey. Whether you're plunging into your first year or wrapping up with your final semester, some helpful tidbits of advice could save your day. These are a few:

1. Appreciate your naps, always. They are few and far in between as college continues.

2. The skill of skim reading will become your best friend.

3. Recognize the importance of learning rather than just receiving an 'A'.

4. Show up early for any and everything (5 minutes early, 10 minutes late) -- it's a sure way to demonstrate initiative to any professor or future employer.

5. From someone who lived under a rock: Take advantage of every social mixer, basketball game, Chapel. Be social and build memories.

6. Change your major until you find where you truly belong because trust me, you will find it.

7. PRIORITIZE -- some things are more important than others, know the difference to make the best decisions

8. "Everyone likes the guy who offers them a stick of gum" - Michael Scott; Follow this quote and invest in an addiction to The Office for background noise while working on homework

9. Dress to impress. Remember, although pj's are comfy, presentations are an opportunity to prepare for the real world.

10. Humility, humbleness, and honor. Hold yourself to the highest standard, your standard.

11. Find time to breath -- relax, take a bath, don't always have your nose scrunched in a textbook.

12. Healthy body, healthy mind cannot be true enough. Eat healthily, take a walk, and care for yourself.

13. Believe in your abilities, you don't always need your parents or friends helping you. Figure it out, welcome to life.

14. Say no. If your passion isn't in it, don't be afraid to invest in something else.

15. Learn to cook more than top ramen and microwave popcorn.

16. But also invest in that cheap microwave food when your budget is car change until the next payday.

17. Take advantage of any food deal in town to treat yourself out: Taco Tuesday's, Wing Wednesday's, etc.

18. Friends are your support system through it all -- late night study sessions, getting ready for Formal, and tailgating for sporting events.

19. Get a planner! Time management is a skill you cannot learn quickly enough.

20. Balance isn't always defined by consistency, sometimes you spend all day sleeping and all night working. You do what you can.

21. Treat others the way you want to be treated. You're independent and responsible for your own actions, make sure they reinforce the opinion you want people to hold for you.

22. YouTube has videos of everything. It is a true guide to surviving life.

23. Never doubt your path; it's about your journey, not the destination.

24. Hold onto your inner child.

25. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE AND NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF WHO YOU ARE.