Before I embarked on this four-year journey known as college, everyone always told me to make the most out of the experience because it was going to be the best years of my life. Little did I know, when I began to just acknowledge their opinion, that it was going to be the best four years of my life. Anxiously awaiting my last semester at Manhattanville, I began to look back over my three and a half years, thus far, at Manhattanville and how it definitely prepared me for my life post graduation.

There are a couple stereotypes for college freshman. The first is the freshman who constantly parties and goes out to have a great time. Another is the freshman who only goes to class and to the library to study. And finally, there is the freshman who joins everything you could possibly imagine. If anyone knows me, I am definitely the third freshman stereotype. My freshman year I was apart of 6 different clubs, participated in 4 different community service programs, worked 2 jobs, and took 18 credits each semester. Needless to say, I was an extremely busy person, who rarely slept and somehow managed to make Dean's List.

As my journey went on, I learned many different lessons and experienced many important things. Each year, rather each semester, I encountered new challenges, conquered new things, made more friends, accomplished new things, and more importantly, grew as a person. College has afforded me the opportunity to grow as a person and to become someone I am proud to be today. College also has allowed me to better prepare the future ahead. College became my playground and allowed me to find my passion and pursue them. I am forever thankful to Manhattanville for giving me that opportunity.

So, here are the lessons I have learned thus far in my college career and how they are going to prepare me for my life after graduation.

1. How to say "no."

If anyone knows me, you know I love to help people and often have an issue saying "no." Often times, I could be found running from thing to thing with little time to breathe, eat, or even go to the bathroom because I over committed myself. Throughout college, I have had plenty of where I wished I told someone "no," but I didn't. College taught me how to say "no" in a polite way that benefits both the person asking for my assistance and myself.

2. I found my voice.

One of the biggest things I could have learned in college was being able to find my voice. Finding my voice was more than just an obstacle standing in my way, it was a way for me to see that I can be something amazing one day and put my past to rest. Throughout most of my life, I let many people just walk all over me because I wanted to make them happy. In college, I came to the point where I just couldn't take it anymore and I came to that point rather quickly. I am thankful that I learned how to stand up for myself and what I believe in college because I know it will make me an excellent employee one day in the near future.

3. I learned that it was okay to fail.

You would think someone who majors in math would be super smart. I am not saying I'm not smart, but I am not saying I am the female version of Albert Einstein. I have had plenty of courses that challenged my intelligence and my ethics. Through these difficult courses, some on the brink of failure and using my final as a Hail Mary, I learned that failure is an option and it is okay to fail. I learned that we all can't win, but I also learned the importance of asking for help when facing failure. Learning to fail will prepare me for not getting the job I desperately want or landing that promotion. Because in reality, failure is a key part of life that will continue to help me grow.

4. I learned to network.

College has afforded me the opportunity to partake in many opportunities, starting as early as freshman year. I have had the opportunity to work at two different learning centers, work with various departments on campus, and meet really great people. Through these experiences, I have had plenty of advice given to me on how to grow both at Manhattanville, but also life after. The people I met along my college journey are people I know I will remain in contact with for years to come. This will help me in my future because you never know when you might need to reach out to someone you met along the way for advice on your current situation.

5. I learned that you don't need 100 pennies, you just need 4 quarters.

That statement can go two ways. Either it can refer to monetary amounts or it can refer to friends. Well here, it refers to friends. In college, you meet many people. I can say I am friends with at least 60% of Manhattanville's campus, but I am truly close friends with about 8 people. In life after college, I know these people will be a text away when I need someone to vent to or someone to say "I'm engaged!," but nevertheless I know they will be there through it all and keep me accountable to my future goals.

I have learned many more lessons that will prepare me for my future. However, I think these are just some of the most important ones, that we all hope to find. Manhattanville has been my home for the past 3.5 years and given me so much. I hope that this next semester gives me just the same experience and many more memories.