My freshman year of college is coming to an end, and I can honestly say it has been a life-changing experience.

While I can say that I learned plenty from my classes, there is a lot that I learned that can't necessarily be found in a textbook.

It's hard to list all of the things that I have learned this year, but I am going to recount the ones I have found to be the most important.

First is something my college algebra Instructor told me in my first semester: "Your college algebra grade has nothing to do with how you should feel about yourself."

I have never been very good at math.

As a matter of fact, I tried to take college algebra once before, and I didn't pass with a high enough grade to transfer. I was already pretty discouraged going into this class, so when it came down to the week before finals, I was completely stressed that I would fail again. I set up a meeting with my professor and honestly went in there expecting the worst.

However, he told me I had an 83 percent in the class, that all I needed to do was make a good grade on the last exam and then do well on the final. When he told me I would be just fine, I said, "Oh, well that makes me feel better about myself," which is when he told me that a grade had nothing to do with who I was as a person and shouldn't define how I feel about myself.

This was so important. I am a perfectionist. I hate to mess up or disappoint people, but sometimes that happens, and that's okay.

Second of all, you have to communicate with others through everything, whether it's your instructors, your friends or your parents.

College is a tough time for everyone, so you shouldn't complicate it by being afraid to talk about what's happening in your life.

When it comes to your instructors, I know that it can be scary. But honestly, they are some of the most understanding and caring individuals. All you have to do is communicate with them. If you are too afraid to communicate, then you are going to struggle majorly when it could have been easily avoided.

When it comes to your roommate, you also need to be able to communicate. You have to live with each other for an entire year, and if you can't communicate with them that they are doing something that is bothering you, it's going to be frustrating for you. Then, if you keep it bottled up and just explode one day, they're going to be frustrated as well--so just talk about it.

A smile or a nod goes a long way. Don't be afraid to smile at people as you pass; you never know how their day may be going, and your smile could turn it around for them.

You will be surprised at how a simple smile at a stranger you know relatively nothing about can turn into one of the best friendships. Life is too short to always wear a scowl when a smile goes much farther.

Lastly, you just have to let things go.

You will have arguments; things won't always go your way. Let it go.

Life is short. Sometimes you just have to move on with your life. We're all on this crazy ride together, so why complicate things and waste time fighting or holding grudges?

Freshman year has been a roller coaster. I have learned so much, and a lot of this has been through challenges. That being said, I wouldn't change anything about this year.