Your college experience is like a present; it lies in your hands yet you have no idea what you are about to unwrap. For some, going to college is like a vacation from the small town they grew up in or an escape from a drama-filled past. For others, going to college is a chore. For me, going to college is a privilege.

I realize that I am extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to attend college. I had the liberty of choosing my very own career path and my school provides me with the resources and experiences I need to pursuit it. I can visualize my future and what it will take to get me there. I am grateful every day. But college offers me so much more than academics.

Before starting college, I was timid. I was content with my everyday routines and I rarely pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I didn't want to believe that there was a bigger world outside of the 600-acre town that I knew and loved. Although my nerves were taking over me, I knew these would be, what I had always heard as, the best years of my life - and boy was I right.

As I enter my junior year at the University of Delaware, I cannot believe how fast the time has passed. In just two years, I have been pushed to my limits. I have learned how to tackle my responsibilities, manage my time, and take care of myself. I have learned that not everything turns out the way you intended it would but that hard work does pay off. But most importantly, I have started to learn about who I am. Don't get me wrong, I'm still that girl my parents raised to be the best that I can be - but I have finally discovered my potential.

It is so important to make the most of your college days. Do the things you are afraid to do. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Work hard during the weeks and reward yourself on the weekends. Stay up late studying for that exam but order yourself a pizza. Go out on a Thursday night and get a large coffee for your Friday morning class.

Before you know it, you will land the job you worked so hard for and your real life will begin. Your responsibilities will multiply and your free time will be minimal. You will find yourself wishing you were back in the library with your best friends losing your minds over countless hours of studying. Do something today that your future self will thank you for. Now is the time to make all the memories you will look back on for the rest of your life.