This year, I have found that being vulnerable and caring extra hard means that you hurt extra too. But, I have found that the pain that comes from giving too much and being let down can never compare to the pain of not doing enough. This year, I have found that you will always be "too much" for some people, and I have learned that those people are not your people.

I have lost people this year and it changed me in ways that I never could've prepared myself for, but I have gained some of the best people that I didn't even know that I needed. I learned that everybody comes into your life for a reason and the best people will be unexpected and come at the time when you seem to need someone most. I have found that losing people only means that you learn to love the people you do have even harder and this year, I have learned that planning life around people or events is a waste of time, because you never, ever know what is going to happen in a year.

I have almost let myself fail semesters in the one career field that I want more than anything else in this world, twice. But, I have learned what it means to work like hell to fix your mistakes and do whatever it takes to keep it. I have felt the joy of knowing your hard work and sleepless nights have paid off and have learned what they mean when they say that when you really love what you're doing, you'll do whatever it takes to make it happen. This year, I have learned that the people who really love you will go out of their way to support you no matter what you do or how badly you mess up.

I have made some of the best memories this year and have learned why your twenties are the best years of your life. I have gone on so many trips and been to so many concerts and filled my days with memories that I will remember forever. I have stayed up way too late, laughing way too hard with some of the best people that I have ever met. I've learned that the best times come from spontaneous decisions and just saying "yes," and I've learned that you can always catch up on sleep or make more money, but the only thing you'll never get back is time. I have learned that friends who you can talk to about anything are important, but the friendships where talking isn't required and silence isn't awkward are the ones that you should hold onto for life. And this year, I have learned that the friends that see you at your lowest and still stick around to try to make it all better are the ones that deserve you most on your best days.

I have taken more pictures this year, of everything. I have taken pictures of the sunsets and the mountains and every big and small trip I go on. I have taken pictures of my best friends when they aren't looking because I never want to forget the day we're having. I've learned to take pictures of my dog when she's sleeping and happy and on walks because I know the day will come when I can't take those pictures anymore. I take videos of my family just to have, and I write down the things that my little brothers say that makes me laugh because looking back on those memories is a great feeling. This year, I've learned that someday, all you'll have is the pictures and the written memories and when that someday comes, I want to make sure I have everything.

I've learned to appreciate all of the small things that life hands you. The smell of your best friend's house the night that you burnt cookies because you were too busy talking, the notes, and the random gifts that people give you. The texts of encouragement from your grandma who always seems to know when you're having a bad week. Every single time someone says they're proud of you. I've learned to really listen to people this year and ask about them and remember the smallest things. I've learned that there is no better feeling in this world than watching someone's face light up when you remember a small part of their life or ask about how their family is doing. This year, I've learned that the smallest things add up into something beautiful.

This year, I've learned that the only acceptance you need is from yourself and there is no better feeling than hugging your mom or calling your dad for advice after a really, really bad day. I've learned that the world isn't a nice place, but if you can find at least one person to brighten up each day, then it isn't all that bad of a place, after all.

This year, I've learned that writing about how you feel is really better than any therapy and there are people out there who really, truly do care what you have to say.

This year, I've learned that quality is really greater than quantity and you are going to find the people who want to read your articles before they're published, and ask how your tests go, and never go a day without asking how you're doing.

This year, I've learned that if they wanted to, they would and if they don't, then they won't. And I've learned that no answer is an answer and as much as it hurts, it's a good answer.

This year, I've learned that kindness is the best quality to have and that people magnetize themselves towards kind people. I've learned that you're never too tired, or too weak, or too broken to be nice and that if you love people with everything you have, they're going to love you back harder.

This has been the greatest and most difficult year of my life. There were days that I didn't think I could get through followed by days that I never, ever wanted to end. I found that you'll have bad days when you can't remember what a good day feels like, but you'll also have good days where you can't remember what bad ones feel like. I found that no year is all good, and no year is all bad but you just learn more during some than others. This year, I learned more about life, love, and self-respect than I ever thought could be possible and for that, I am so thankful.