I am currently surrounded by a mountain of study guides, highlighters and flashcards. Finals week, easily the busiest week of the school year, is in full swing. The week that is characterized by a lack of sleep, last-minute cramming and late-night breakdowns. In the midst of all the craziness, I can't help but reflect on the events of the past school year. Nine months ago, I began a whole new chapter of my life. Now, spring semester is coming to a close and by the end of this week, I will have finished my freshman year of college.

I have gained so much knowledge over this past year. And not just in the academic sense. Yes, I have learned about the various theories of mass communication and Maslow's hierarchy of needs. This is all well and good. But, I have also learned some valuable life lessons that cannot be taught in a classroom. College is where we learn to live with others, take full responsibility for our own actions, and discover who we really are on the inside.

Since summer, I have learned how to build new and lasting friendships. Nothing beats bonding with someone over a mutual hatred of chemistry lab. In college, your friends become your family, especially when you attend school out of state. You live together, eat together, study together, laugh together and cry together. You support each other through the good times and the bad, whether this is by lending a sympathetic ear or by going on a Taco Bell run at one in the morning. I have also learned the painful lesson that, no matter how hard you try, you will not be friends with everybody.

During my time at college, I have learned to budget my money, my academics and my recreation, thus bringing a healthy balance to life on campus. I am responsible for my own laundry, grocery shopping and housecleaning, and all this is an essential part of becoming a mature, independent adult.

I have learned the importance of maintaining relationships back home as well. A quick text to your parents or a FaceTime session with siblings and friends can go a long way. After all, these are the people who have supported you all throughout your high school years and the college application process. I have found that keeping these old friendships is just as important as fostering the new ones.

Freshman year has also been one of the hardest years of my life. Being separated from family and friends can be incredibly difficult during the first month or so. The homework load can be overwhelming, and at times, you'll feel like throwing in the towel. Freshman year teaches you to push yourself even harder, and believe me when I say that there is no greater feeling of accomplishment than when you finish a challenging assignment or submit that 20-page English paper. College has taught me to break out of my comfort zone and to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of.

My freshman year was an incredible experience, and I will carry these lessons, friendships and wisdom with me throughout the rest of my life.

Here's to the next three years.