I grew up always knowing I would end up at college somewhere. That is where my life was headed because I knew my career choices. My parents always said that I had the brains to get me there.

The first year of college was insanely difficult. I got some of my first really bad grades and I had to adjust to living with someone.

As my first year went on, I learned who I wanted to be, but I was not sure how to get there.

I wanted to be the girl that everyone thought I was. I was always labeled as the "happy, bubbly girl with a smile on her face, no matter the circumstances."

I wanted to be that person. I knew who she was, but I was not her. I was always down on myself internally.

This summer I realized what needed to change. I needed to help someone that could not help me back. I needed to give and not need or want anything in return.

I worked in a daycare this summer, an underprivileged one. I got to experience love in its most simple sense.

I got to share a smile with someone when they were upset. I got to love on a child when they were otherwise inconsolable.

This taught me how to love myself. I needed those children as much as they needed me. They taught me how to love in a more simplistic way.

I can give away as much love as I wanted but at the end of the day, I still needed some to give myself.

This was not the only thing that helped me become my best self, but it did play one of the most important parts.

My summer taught me how to truly be happy.