How did I make it this far? I find it truly perplexing that I've already reached this day. This simple first day where you discover everyone's hobby and dive into the "enthralling" syllabus.

It wasn't simply my first day though, it was my last first day -- the last first day that I'll attend Grand Canyon University as an undergrad. I couldn't pinpoint anything special, yet there are so many little things that just made me smile.

My last first day of college will hold so much more weight than I ever imagined. As I walked through the campus, everything became so surreal. Reality had hit.

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect on my first day -- classic Paige always running late, frantically trying to gather all my school supplies, find my parking pass (which I lost), and toss on some deodorant. I keep telling myself that I'll prepare the night before, and here we are, my Senior year. I was so preoccupied, I didn't even stop to think about what to expect from my first day -- I just knew I had the room numbers written on my hand and I wasn't going to end up in the wrong classroom.

Anyways, I arrive on campus, and what is GCU without a little parking mayhem? It's okay, I have some tunes gearing me up for my first class.

First class is here, as I speedily walk through campus and try to make my franticness look casual. When I walk in the first person I see is such a sass master that I have grown to love, and I am immediately welcomed with a hug. So the hug makes her sound really nice, which she is, but trust me her zingers just make your mouth drop open.

I can't begin to explain how much I missed my friends. Honestly, the hardest part of college is having to say goodbye to your friends for the summer, especially now that some of our goodbyes become permanent as we graduate. Those late nights finishing school projects, indulging in Taco Tuesday, and looking to them for guidance when you've felt so lost. These friendships are truly priceless and they might make you look like a dork hugging in the middle of class, laughing obnoxiously.

It was both my experience from class and the realizations I reached that made this first day truly memorable.

Back to my first class, I happen to have one one my favorite professors -- my Senior year is definitely proving to be an interesting one. Of course, there is a reason she is my favorite because our "ice breaker" consisted of sharing our most embarrassing moment . . . I won't dive into that any further. By the end of the class, I was crying from laughter.

Not to mention, like I said my friend's sass is relentless -- and I only have all my classes with her.

Next, this class had a little different feeling. Maybe it was the fact that I spilled queso dip on my shirt? I spilled food on my shirt, literally within the first few hours of being at school. I had one job: PRESENT A STRONG CHARACTER ON THE FIRST DAY. Yes, because nothing says "I am a college senior" like spilling queso on yourself in class. Thoughts in my head currently consist of: Great first impression Paige, real smooth. It's okay though, because my friend was there to make sure I wouldn't live it down.

However, while all of this made me smile and appreciate my first day I took so much more out of it. I realized how far I've come and what I have accomplished. This semester is going to fly by, and at the end, I'll be walking on stage to collect my diploma. I am baffled, and not ready at all -- but at the same time, I know I am. I think back to my freshman year of college and how different I was. The morals I hold, the perspective I view the world in, and the character I hold valiantly on my shoulders.

I am proud of who I have become, and I have a deep appreciation for those at my university that have helped me become that person. I appreciate the people that have helped me in the worst of times and made me laugh when I needed it the most.

As I walk though campus, I think of those people and hold onto the motivation that keeps me the person I am.

This last first day made me realize what I am capable of and all the adventures my life has in store if I continue to follow this path. While I know the journey ahead of me will be the toughest I've ever been through, I know I'll make it with gusto.

On my last first day, my true takeaways were the friends I know I need to keep in my life and the confidence to believe in my capabilities, otherwise, I wouldn't be where I am at today.