Now that I've completed my first semester of my college career and waved goodbye to 2014, I've found myself taking the time to reflect deeply on the person I have become after just four short months spent as a college student. I'm amazed at how much I have grown as an individual. They sure weren't kidding when they said college would change you.

1. I've developed my interpersonal skills. Back in high school, I wasn't much of a people person. Sure, I had my friends, but my general attitude towards people was negative. Indeed, I was more on the introverted side of the social spectrum, and a side effect of this was shyness. Since I've enrolled in college, I have shrugged off this timidness and replaced my wary attitude towards people with enthusiasm. I am confident enough to ask questions and speak up for myself and others. I am always looking forward to being social and meeting new people. 

2. I have become more domestic. I'll admit, my first few weeks of college, I found myself silently thanking my parents for always nagging at me to do chores around the house. Being all on my own in a dorm, I became an expert at carrying out common household tasks like sweeping, vacuuming, doing laundry and cooking. The fact that I managed to cook a three-course meal with my roommates without burning down the common room is a testament to my domestic savviness. 

3. I've matured. As if this hasn't become apparent already, I am more independent and responsible than I was in high school. This is simply a byproduct of living on your own, I suppose. As a college student, it is generally expected of me to be on top of my things without anyone holding my hand along the way. I have learned to keep track of my required classes for my degree and have forced myself out of bed to attend said classes, even if I am  feeling a bit under the weather. I learned how to juggle a job and membership in a sorority in the midst of school and have sought out ways to become more involved on campus in order to both gain experience and boost my resume. 

4. I am healthier. I know, I know. This isn't what you'd expect to hear from a freshman after their first semester of college. I guess I'm a part of the minority of freshman that have actually managed to adopt a healthier lifestyle while in college. This might partly be because I decided to forgo the meal plan and stick to cooking my own food and eating at my sorority house. I have avoided the dreaded "freshman 15" by being active, even if at times, it was with great reluctance. I've embarked on treacherous journeys, hiking up hills and swimming through a sea of students as I speed walk around our large campus to class because I'm going to be late. But I have also taken advantage of our very nice, very free gymnasium, enrolling in fitness classes andsimply using the equipment there whenever I had free time. This was a huge change from the high school days, where I never even bothered to try out for a sport, and if someone would've invited me to the gym I would have laughed in their face. 

5. I am happier. College has its ups and downs, there's no doubt about that. But generally speaking, my outlook on life has become more positive since I started college. Just in my first semester, I have made friendships that I know will last a lifetime. I have seen things that have changed the way I view the world. I have met people who taught me valuable lessons in life. I am happy being independent enough to do the things I want with a freedom that I did not really have back in high school, and that is more than I could have ever asked for.