From last year to this year, I came into Rutgers scared of the amount of change that college would bring to my life. From the first couple of weeks, when my roommate and I were trapped on the weekend bus for 2 hours because we didn't understand how it worked, being drenched by torrential pouring during freshman convocation, and missing the football game because we couldn't buy tickets, college didn't seem like it was going to turn out well. And, several times in and out, it proved that it was going to live up to that shitty expectation.

However, I am glad to say (although it took a long time) that I have finally established a really good group of friends, made some awesome memories, and cannot regret how much I did get myself involved in Rutgers through various clubs and activities. This year, I got myself involved with the supply chain club BASE (Business Analytics for Supply Chain Expertise) and found exactly what major I wanted to do. In addition, I got myself involved with the Rutgers Ballroom Dancing club and did something I never thought I would ever do. Still, I suck at ballroom dancing, but there's so much room for improvement that three more years will definitely change.

And, for anyone who is still struggling to find out what major they should do, I really suggest that you join various clubs and activities around campus. Starting off with signing up for EVERYTHING you can at the involvement fair. And, I. MEAN. EVERYTHING. Especially as a business student that didn't know what she was doing at first, it is a great opportunity to just join and go to a couple of meetings. If the club or activity is not for you, you should leave. But, don't knock it till you try it.

My general advice for those of y'all coming in or still living through college is to just go for anything that you want to do. But, keep in mind rejection might be at the doorstep. Life and the real world displayed in college that it is necessary to develop that thicker upper layer. However, know that if you fail here, it's okay, there's so much more places you are going to fail. And, so many more places you will succeed. And, if people in life didn't fail, it just makes success less valuable.

And, also, remember to designate some alone time, which is super important because college is a series of interactions and running around to class, clubs, or work. It can get hectic and even if you aren't talking to people necessarily in each setting, it is SUPPERRR nice just to lay back once in a while and be ABSOLUTELY Alone. It helps recharge and being by yourself is sometimes a luxury if one has a roommate. From worrying about making friends or fitting in, to having a group of great friends that would surprise me on my birthday (a week before finals week), is more than I could have ever asked for.

And, when I look back, I've really aged from start to finish. I feel around 10 years old because college really puts a real-world perspective on things, where independence is key and no one is there to hold one's hand. It is your life and your life only. And, that just seemed so crazy. High school seemed way too long ago. And, although there were some points in time that I wished for freshman year to be over, I appreciated everything that happened this year.

And, although some of my floormates were crazy, I'm really going to miss my weed-smelling dorm and all of its memories. But, what I won't miss is that this semester has also been the first time I failed a test in YEARS. And, I have statistics for business to thank for that.