Everyone claims at the beginning of every new year that this is going to be their year. I never filled my head with that mindset. I didn't know if the new year was going to be good, bad, or a whole year of just 'ehh'. I learned so much over the past year, I hit a lot of milestones, and figured out a lot about myself along the way. This year turned out to be amazing and full of so many new things, but I wouldn't call it the "best". The best has yet to happen. This is not as good as it's going to get because it's going to get so much better. There is so much to learn and look forward to in the future.

This year was all about me; I guess you could call it my resolution. I tried to focus on myself more than anything, and I can definitely say that was the case. I broke out of my shell like never before. I was always the quiet kid in high school who didn't talk much. When I got to college, everything changed for the better. I never thought I would see myself writing an article like this, but here I am. I developed a lot in the social aspect of my life more so over the last three months than I ever have, and I'm so proud of myself for that.

I figured out so much about myself along the way. This year has made me think a lot about myself as a person; I wasn't being who I wanted to be or who I actually was. I did the hardest thing to do by figuring out who I am and being comfortable with it. I got to a place I never thought I would, and for that I am forever grateful.

My friends were a bigger part of my life this year than they ever have been. They're my support system, the people I go to with all of my problems, the people who know everything about me (when I say that, I 100% mean it), and the people I couldn't imagine my life without. This year specifically, they helped me through so much and they stand by my side no matter what. When it comes down to needing to talk to someone, I go to my friends before I would ever go to my family. When I'm having a bad day, they're always there. They help me through everything, and I do the same for them. That's just how it works.

This year was filled with a lot of personal milestones. I graduated from high school a year early, got my driver's license, and went to college. All of these will seem rather petty in a few years, but at the time they felt absolutely amazing.

Overall, 2016 was amazing, but I am more than ready to put the past in the past and move on and see what the new year has in store for me. I overcame some obstacles, made some mistakes, and learned who and what is most important to me. This was a year of growth and personal development. This year was amazing, but it was not the best because the best is yet to come, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.