College is the best four years of your life. You have heard it a million times. Yeah, the parties are fun, and it is awesome being away from home.

But, the bigger picture is transforming into a mature young adult who views the world in such a new way. Once you see the essence of life with a clear lens, it is truly astonishing. Going away from school has changed me in so many ways. Growing up in a small suburban town, I was not able to branch out much from the social group I was in, did not try new things, and was just stuck in a bit of a rut.

College is so much more than that. Once I got the push I needed, getting out of that small town rut was even easier than expected. Even going to a pretty small college, I have been able to try new things, meet new people and become the independent, strong, woman I am molding into.

I have been able to challenge myself in ways I never dreamt possible. In high school, I lived too much by what people thought about me, and never challenged those notions. In college, I have been able to challenge myself by taking new courses, a larger course load, and never realized how much potential I had. College has also allowed me to see that I can be a leader, something I never thought that I would become.

Being away from my family and hometown friends has enabled me to value them all the more. There will always be those home friends, the ones who, the second you get home, will always rekindle the friendship like it was never interrupted. Those people are precious, never forget that. What I have learned, so far, is that time should be treasured. Life is short. Worrying is useless. Cherish your health. Love yourself. Do what you want to do, and pay the haters no mind. Do not waste time on people who are not worth it. Put effort into things that matter and people who care. Save your money. Stay humble. Be grateful. Be happy. Never forget where you came from. Call your parents and grandparents, because, as hard as it is, they will not be around forever. Prioritize what means most and never second guess your conscience.