For years I always told myself that I would be no different in college than I was in high school. I thought I had the world figured out and myself. But I was very wrong. For both good and even some bad, I changed. I changed my attitude. I changed my outlook. I changed me.
College is a constant stressor that makes you question just about every decision you make. You can stay up and study all night and still fail. I was a big control freak as I began college and now I just go with the flow. I learned that the only thing that matters is that I tried my hardest. I'm not always going to ace that test or get an amazing grade on that paper. College was like the slap in the face that I needed to relax and just let things play out.
I gained confidence. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I was free from the small town drama or the fact that I was on my own, but there was something about being able to take full control of my future that made me feel on top of the world. It was my chance to make lifetime friends. It's my time to make something of myself.
There is no such thing as a mistake as long as you learn from it. Yes, I did fail that major exam, but I also learned how to study and what to focus on. Yes, I did go to that party, but I also learned that being around a bunch of drunk people crammed into a hot basement was not my scene. I stopped punishing myself and just realized that it was a learning experience. That doesn't mean you can go party every night and just say well I learned a keg stand so it's not a mistake. It means that you made the wrong decision, but it taught you not to put yourself in that situation again.
You are going to change your major and if you don't you are beyond lucky. So many of us go in thinking we know exactly what we want to do with our lives only to start studying it and figuring out that you suck at it or it doesn't interest you. It's not a bad thing to change! Don't be down on yourself for changing your life plans. I changed and then added that major back for a double major. We are in school to first find out what we like and excel it and become successful in it.
The most exciting part of college? Finding out who you are and who you want to become. This is your time to find your crowd and your future. This is our time to explore the world without our parents objections. Some of the craziest partiers turn into very studious library goers and some of the most uptight people turn into party animals. It's the part that makes this time the most challenging because while we are trying to discover ourselves, we are also cramming hours of homeowork and studying into our day.
It's our time to be selfish and discover what we want for ourselves and how we want to live. You are going to change in some shape or form. Maybe you gain the freshmen 15 or maybe you just become happier with the freedom. Either way, it's okay to change. There is no crime against it. We all go thorugh life in different ways. So go out and explore, make a few bad decisions, and find your happiness.
