My education at The College of New Jersey has been an adventure, in more ways than one. Living on my own gave me confidence about making decisions for myself, and I experienced the thrill of independence for the first time in my life. I met an array of people that came from diverse backgrounds, and I learned a lot about different views on life. I also found myself surrounded by a circle of people that genuinely cared about me, and my classes were stimulating endeavors that exposed me to new venues of information. Being a student at The College of New Jersey changed my personality in so many ways, and I was given essential lessons on life during the first semester of my junior year.

I expected so much out of myself at the beginning. After going through the confusion of freshman year and applying what I had learned as a sophomore, I thought that junior year was going to be an amazing experience. I had all of these dreams of achieving an amazing time, having tons of friends and always going to parties. I believed that I would finally get the typical college life that everyone else seemed to get, and I had extremely high aspirations for myself. I thought that junior year was going to be my best year so far, and I looked forward to an exciting semester.

Unfortunately, circumstances turned out differently than what I expected. My schoolwork increased in its intensity, and I was forced to reduce my passions for writing and music. I slept for about three to five hours a night, and I suffered from a lack of genuine rest. I failed to get an internship during this semester, and I constantly beat myself up over my lack of success with dating. I was unhappy and frustrated for much of the semester, feeling disappointment because I was struggling, whereas my classmates flourished at The College of New Jersey. I felt so much desperation to make college the best years of my life, and I was displeased with how everyone seemed to lack the same difficulties that I faced.

However, the semester taught me a valuable lesson about life. The difficulties that I encountered as a junior taught me that life is essentially a constant uphill battle. I will experience amazing times that are full of fun and possibility, and I will also face moments of great strife. Doing well requires genuine effort and dedication, and I found that it was unhealthy to set unrealistic expectations for myself. I saw the fruitlessness in comparing myself to others, and I also observed the value of relaxing whenever I was able to. That semester gave me important context on what we learn throughout life, and I learned to recognize how much I have progressed since freshman year.

Even though last semester came with events that tested my character, I learned so much from that period of my life. I saw that it is important to be happy with myself and what I have accomplished as a person, and that my story is my own unique contribution to the structure of the world. Life is about doing the best that you can every single day, and I have to put in my strongest effort toward achieving my own goals. What was initially a time of struggle prepared me for future occurrences in my life, and I am looking forward to making the next semester better. The College of New Jersey has given me a different perspective on life due to this difficult semester, and I am ready to face whatever challenges come my way.