Dear Freshman year,

Well, you're finally over. I'm sitting in the airport anxiously awaiting to board the plane to go home, and all I can say is you flew by so fast!

The nine months I spent at school have been full of new and exciting experiences. In August, I hadn't the slightest idea who I was as an individual, and Freshman year, you have shaped me into a person that I am proud to be. I have grown into a more confident individual with so much more gratitude and self-love.

Although this year was the best of my life, freshman year was not a static journey. Freshman year, it's been a rollercoaster of feelings and emotions! Through every dead end and closed door, I learned a valuable lesson that I am beyond grateful for. I would not change a single thing. I have learned to persevere through the most challenging classes and situations in my life.

To put the most memorable months of my life into a short article is a challenge, but, to sum it up in a few words, I would say this has been the most extraordinary journey I have faced.

In the beginning, I was a bit unsure of what college was all about. I had to use the Maps app on my phone to get from building to building on campus. When I finally thought I got the hang of it, I went to my economics class instead of my math class. After a few more days, I had actually figured out my way around campus and felt a lot more at peace.

In terms of friends, Freshman year, you have brought the most incredible people into my life and I will always be thankful for this. The friends I have made are all so unique but as a whole, we all work so well together, each contributing our own flare and personality. I have become more in touch with myself as a person. I have learned to love my chatty, loud self.

Not only did I make the most incredible friends, I learned that it is okay for people to spend a short time in your life. Sometimes we meet people, and they are only meant to be in our lives for a short period.

Although I still have much to learn about life and myself, I can now say with confidence that I have a lot more knowledge of who I am. You pushed me out of my comfort zone and I soon learned, this is a place I enjoy being.

Being out of my comfort zone has pushed me to do things I would not normally do. I became comfortable making a fool of myself on an elevated surface with my friends. I became comfortable with my own opinions and realized I did not need to conform to other peoples expectations. I have gained so many new ways to help myself in a tough situation as well as the importance of surrounding myself with people who make life even more amazing. I never thought it was possible to laugh as much as I did over these past nine months, but Freshman year, you proved me wrong. I have laughed so hard I cried (and even occasionally snorted) countless times.

I have become comfortable with myself in all shapes, forms and moods. I have learned that disappointment becomes a norm in life, but things will also work out when you least expect it. I learned how much I truly do value my high school friends as well as my family.

When it was time to say goodbye to all the new friends I had made, it was very tough; this only further showed me how truly important they are to me. I learned the importance of valuing the important things in life. While I love materialistic things, I learned the only true way to be happy is to be 110% yourself at all times and to love those who are around you.

Freshman year has been an amazing time and all I can really say is thank you.

From a truly grateful and humbled person,

Olivia