So as I began my first week of classes this week, college really hit me. At first, Oxford was feeling like a summer camp. An amazing summer camp. But after Monday morning, it wasn't camp anymore. It was the real world.

After looking around at the people next to me in my classes, one after one claiming that they knew exactly what they want to do with their lives, I started to freak out (on the inside). I wanted to scream and say, "How did I miss this memo? You ALL know what you want to do with your life? I don't have a clue."

So after I had a mini meltdown to myself in all my classes, I called my mom and had a quick vent. But my mom did exactly what I need; she reminded me of truth. Mom's have a great way of always saying what we need to hear.

She said I don't have to have it all figured out.

Wow. A sigh of relief. Phew.

Please, if you're reading this and are not used to college or don't think you'll ever get your life together, please take a sigh of relief with me. Do you think that anyone else knows what they are doing here either?! They don't. Even if they look like they have their lives together, chances are they have called their mom's a billion times about the same things you were freaking out about. Some people are great at faking it.

It is so encouraging to know that everyone is in the same boat right now. You and I are not alone.

So instead of walking around feeling like college is maybe "just not your thing", try taking a different approach. It is going to take time to adjust. It is going to be weird being away from home, and taking showers with your flip flops on. It's going to be weird not seeing familiar faces. But girl- there is beauty in the struggle! Have patience. Stick it out, and take it day by day. You can do this.

Don't compare yourselves to others who say they have their whole career mapped out at the ripe age of 18 years old. As I have said many, many times before: comparison is the thief of joy. Embrace your own path in life- it is different than anyone else's!

At the end of the day, it's all going to be okay. You will figure it out, it just might not happen exactly when you want it to. Instead of letting worry overcome you, focus on enjoying this new chapter in your life. It will be over before you know it.