Throughout the past year, I can honestly say that I've been through a lot. I'm thankful that I had people to help me through everything, and I'm also thankful that others chose not to stay in my life. They say that things happen for a reason, and I've never believed that until now. But believe me when I say that now, I'm happier than I've ever been. Why? I've found myself again and I realize that I love who I am, and don't need anyone to complete me.

Don't get me wrong, relationships can be the best thing ever, but they can also be the worst. If you've found your "forever person", congratulations! But if not, don't sweat it. Timing is everything, and it's important to realize this. If you haven't found the person who you plan on spending your life with, it's really not a big deal. It just means that maybe God isn't ready for you two to meet, but that it will happen eventually.

Next, learning that you can do things on your own is key. I'll admit that during the last long relationship I had, I depended on that person for everything. Once we broke up, I wasn't sure what to do and I made a lot of mistakes along the way. Finally, I learned that being on my own wouldn't kill me, and I also realized that friends were more important than I made them out to be, to begin with.

I also realized that I was slacking with all of my school work. Because I was so focused on that one person, I neglected my responsibilities and didn't study like I should have. Next to that is my sorority. By finally ending those ties, I realized that I have a whole sisterhood of amazing girls who have my back no matter what. They always give me something to laugh about, and I'm always assured I'll never have to go eat alone in the cafe.

I surrounded myself with family and got back into church. Every weekend that I go home, I look forward to just being with my family and friends. When you're dating someone, you don't always have that extra time to spend at home. Also, I realized that I needed to be more focused on my faith because, at the end of the day, that's the most important part of life. Sometimes you get so caught up in a relationship that you forget to count your blessings and be thankful.

Be thankful for the experience and all the lessons learned. I can honestly say that I'm thankful for everything that the relationship taught me. It taught me about having the right attitude, what is really important in life, and what I will look for in a spouse one day. Although you may regret some parts of the relationship, it's more about who you've become after you handle the breakup and calm the storm.

Last, be happy for that person if they've found someone else. It didn't work out between you two for a reason, and you should be thankful for that. God's timing is always perfect, and as long as you keep your head up, you'll always be happy and grateful that you survived the breakup.