What a crazy year 2017 has been. It has been emotional rollercoaster filled with new opportunities, moments of reflection, and learning experiences. I learned a lot about myself and a lot about life. And as I carry on through the final hours of this year, I think it is important to share how this year has changed me and what I have learned.

1. Life has value.

It took me a long time to see the worth in this statement. Especially as I get older, I have truly realized that we only get one life, and it is our duty to live it as fully as possible. Our lives are what we make it, so I encourage you to have each day count.

2. It is okay to be afraid.

Life is scary. It is overwhelming. You will not always be okay, but that is okay. Find comfort in this fear. This is your defense, and you can learn from it.

3. Take the risk.

Send the text message. Start that conversation. Make the first move. If you don't, then you will never know what could have been. But if you do, you may be opening up a door to something magical.

4. It is OK to need to be alone, but don't push people away in order to do so.

This was a huge idea that I learned this year. I spent much of the first half of the 2017 struggling. I was lost and confused and found myself secluding myself from social situations. I did not realize that this was a problem until I saw another one of my friends doing the same exact thing. The advice that I gave him, in turn, was something I needed to give myself. Don't forget about your friends, the people around you who care about you. They will continue to be there for you through the good and the bad, but you have to make sure you are also holding up your end of the relationship.

5. Ask for help.

As a very independent person, this is one of the last things that I find myself wanting to do. But there comes a time that you must realize that you are only one person. You can only handle so much. Asking for help is not showing weakness, it is showing that you just need some extra support to succeed.

6. Keep your friends close.

Friendship is one of the most valuable relationships that we have. Friends provide the opportunity for laughter, for happiness. Friends are what help make you, you. Once you find the good ones, don't let them go.

7. Letting go of a relationship does not mean it is the end.

People change. Life happens and sometimes relationships dissolve. On some occasions, it means that it is the end, or it may mean that a break is in store. Whatever the reason, take this as an opportunity to learn. See this as a chance to expand and find new relationships. You may have people enter your life that you never thought would.

8. New experiences and opportunities are scary, but important.

New experiences provide a chance for growth and opportunity. They allow for new knowledge to be obtained. They allow us to grow and progress as individuals. They allow us to better ourselves.

9. Learn how to say no.

We can't do it all. We are only human. As much as we want to take on every opportunity that life brings our way, sometimes it is better to give the chance to someone else. Someone else who has the ability to put 100% of the effort in when you could only give 75%. Someone who has a different spark or edge that will bring the opportunity into new light. You are not sacrificing this moment for yourself, you are allowing brilliant and brighter things to develop.

10. Learn how to say yes.

However, it is also important to take on challenges. To say yes to something that you might not have said yes to previously. To learn something new and bring fresh ideas into your life. Life involves chance, so why not take the leap?

11. Follow your passions.

Again you only have one life, therefore you are wasting your time to follow anyone else's passions besides yourself. Everyone in your life will have an opinion about the passions and goals you set for yourself, and more often than not they will not agree with your choices. But last time I checked, this is your life, not theirs. It will be tough, you may have to fight for what you believe in, but at the end of the day if you are able to place your head on your pillow with full confidence that you are content with the life you are living, then it is all worth it.

12. Time flies.

I turned 20, I have 3 semesters of college left, and sometimes I still have no idea how I even got to this point in my life. In the true words of Ferris Bueller "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Make sure to take it all in, enjoy moments, both big and small; live a little (or a lot), and embrace what life has to offer.

13. It is OK to cry.

Emotion is important. It allows us release. It allows us comfort. It allows us to channel that emotional energy into bettering ourselves. Embody these instances, they are not a waste. Tears are not a sign of weakness, they show you have a heart.

13. Life goes on.

Sometimes it is simply not worth it to dwell on things. Things change, people change, mistakes happen. But allow them to make you wiser, and to make positive change for the future.

14. Find balance.

Balance is the key to everything. What we do, think, say, eat, feel, they all require awareness, and through this awareness we can flourish.

15. Don't forget to eat and sleep.

DO NOT SACRIFICE YOUR OWN HEALTH. You will not succeed if you yourself are not healthy. Period.

16. You are more prepared for the future than you might think.

Every step of your life has prepared you for where you are in this instance. You may not think so, but your experiences, memories, and the lessons that you have learned are here to help you progress.

17. You are important.

Above all, do not forget this. This is your life, it is vital that you live it how you wish. Here's to an eventful 2017, bring on the exciting 2018.

"January 1st is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one."