One of the most overused phrases I've heard since I came to college was "You've changed." It came with a negative connotation and I've never been more annoyed. Since when is 'changing' a bad thing?
If I was the same person I was in high school I'd probably still think that high school sweethearts are forever and that skipping classes are bad. (Disclaimer: I'm not saying skip all your class but definitely live a little, one or two won't hurt you.)
One thing I learned when I first came to college was that for the first time in my life I could do whatever I wanted. I 'found' myself and as cliche as that sounds, it's true. I was thrown out of my comfort zone being at WVU and I've never been happier.
I also quickly learned that my 'forever friends' from high school were actually just temporary. (FYI friends in college come and go as well.) Cutting out the toxic people in my life made me feel good. But for some reason, everyone thought it made me a sh*tty person. Standing up for myself is something I'll never apologize for.
Realizing my worth was one of the biggest challenges I've faced. You're not going to make everyone happy and you can't be everyone's friend (even though you'll try). And that's okay. Being a friend and being taken advantage of are two different things. Knowing when to walk away from negativity can be hard but it's worth it. Life is too damn short to be surrounded by people that tear you down.
I got involved in a lot of different ways on campus and found things I really loved. Joining Pi Phi was one of the most rewarding decisions I've made. My friends and even some family members looked at me differently, however, like joining a student org made me a different person.My sorority molded me into a selfless and more well-rounded person, I'm sure many members in the Greek community would say the same for their organization. I've learned to carry myself in higher regard because I not only represent myself but 140+ other amazing women. I would not be where I am today without them.
Going to WVU in general I found that people instantly judge me, but you have to just learn to brush it off. Yes, I do go to a large school that has a party reputation. And yes, I do frequently go out with my friends on Thursday nights. But everyone fails to notice how I also have a 4.0 in my major. And I'm currently serving a position on my exec board for Pi Phi as well. (I know it sounds crazy, but you can actually have both! Work hard, play hard right?)
I'll be first to say that I'm damn proud of the person I've become since going to college. But isn't that the whole point though? So for everyone who says "You've changed," I'm going to take it as a compliment and say thank you because yes I've changed and yes I'm proud.
