It seems like just yesterday I was participating in tearful goodbyes with family and friends before leaving for college, yet here I am somehow already studying for second-semester finals. This year has been one of the greatest of my life and has definitely had the largest impact on my growth.

Moving away from home, leaving behind so many people and traditions at first seemed like the scariest thing in the world, and although it wasn’t always easy, it has helped me become a more independent and functioning human.

Upon arriving at school the new freedom was exciting and making new friends, meeting different types of people was a great experience. However, after a couple weeks I began to realize that I missed home and I had never gone this long away from my family.

My homesickness was quickly cured after parents weekend and I officially felt like an independent adult capable of living on her own.

The first semester brought me amazing new friendships that I had not previously imagined, new educational experiences, and helped me mature. I was able to realize that this new stage in my life, although scary at first, was going to be the best four years of my life.

When I came back for the second semester I rushed a sorority and found an amazing group of girls.It introduced me to so many new people, helping to make such a large school feel like a much smaller community. It helped me come out of my shell and helped me take advantage of so many more opportunities that were presented to me.

This year I was able to discover what I want to do with the rest of my life, recently declaring myself as a Communication, Sciences, and Disorders Major, where I will learn to be a speech pathologist.

A year ago I was accepted into the School of Education believe that was the field I wanted to enter.Little did I know that an introduction class I was randomly placed in would become my passion.

Looking back at this first year of college I am so grateful for all of the friendships I have formed, the education I have received, the opportunities I have been presented with, and the new experiences I have been able to have.

I am also glad that I have been able to preserve strong relationships with friends and family from home, despite the distance.I have learned that in order to grow you must go through some struggle, but it is what makes you a stronger person and is so unbelievably worth it.