I am a very open-minded person. I always have been and always will be. I love listening to people’s stories about moments when everything in their world changed. I always thought, too, of ways that I would have handled the situation better if I had been in their shoes. As an open-minded person, I am also very accepting to learning experiences. I accept that I make mistakes, and I choose to learn from them. These were just a few of the personality traits that I picked up in high school.

Like many others, high school was a big moment for me. I was in the top 10 percent of my class, involved in several activities, and was on the varsity volleyball team. I graduated with flashing colors, and I left high school feeling immortal. I was on the top of Mount Olympus among the gods because I had a scholarship to the college I wanted to go to. I knew I was prepared for college because of my unique experiences in high school, and I knew I had the maturity already to act alone as an adult.

When I walked into college, every single strain of my over-confidence came crashing down as fast as lightning. I had been among the gods, but when I entered college, I was on the same level as every other freshman around me. My first year in college has been a monumental point in my life and my journey to adulthood—a journey that will continue for a long, long time to come. I know that these two measly semesters as a college freshman will forever influence my outlook on life.

I have grown immensely this year, and I’m proud of myself.

I don’t think I’ve ever been proud of myself before.

The first and foremost thing that I learned is that every single person has a story. They have a background, and they have baggage and hardships just like I do. I learned that their problems might be different, but their problems are no less than mine. Ever.

I learned that I don't know everything, and that everything that happens in the classroom or out is a learning opportunity for me. I will always make mistakes, even if I try my best to avoid it, and I can't dwell on those mistakes. They help me learn better for next time.

I also learned to take challenges head on and to never back down. Professors, and life in general, love to challenge you by setting impossibly high expectations. They set expectations that you "know" you'll never meet. These challenges are to make you better, they are to inspire you to never give up, and to stick it (in the most appropriate, class-like manner) to the person who ever made you think that you can't do something.

I learned that being organized and being responsible go hand in hand. Keeping a detailed planner this year has saved my life and allowed me to be prepared for class. The only times that I didn't come prepared were times when I forgot to write things down in my planner! Being organized also leads to having time management and takes a load off the mountain of stress you will carry around.

I learned that the best thing you can have in college are friends who will make you laugh, cry, and always support you no matter what happens. Having great friends in college is an absolute blessing. They keep you sane the entire way and give you those great times that you'll always remember. Accepting help from friends, too, is something that I learned. Sometimes I can't do it on my own. Accepting help doesn't make me weak or incompetent. It means that I am able to recognize whenever I need support to do a job to my best ability.

Lastly, I've learned that I'll only get out what I put in. I can go into something having a bad attitude, and then it will be an awful experience. Or I can go in smiling and make it a good day without much effort at all. Attitude is mind over matter.

College certainly is life-changing, and I can't believe how much I've grown as a student and as an individual this year. I hope that every senior in high school gets the same opportunities that I've had to learn, and I hope they see those chances for what they're worth.