You have a voice, an opinion, and you are powerful. Make your voice be heard. Stop being the person that everyone uses, never sees, and walks all over. If you're like I was, you have probably found that, when you give too much of yourself, you feel sucked dry, very stressed, and very unhappy. A while back, I decided that I wanted to be happy, so I started defining what I believed in. I believe that everyone should know what they stand for. Just as you respect others, you must first respect yourself. In order to find the strength in your voice, you must first realize a few things.

1. You can say no.

This is the starting point. You need to be able to say "No," because you have to be mindful of yourself. If you are the typical doormat, then you want to help as many people complete as many tasks as possible, but there is a limit. Find out how much you can handle, what you like to help people with the most, and say no accordingly. Remember that, when you pile too much food on your plate, you become a glutton. You're going to become unhealthy, feel weighed down, and not be able to go as fast or as far.

2. Cutting negative people out of your life is a good thing.

If there are people in your life that are more trouble than they're worth, then it's time to give them the boot. There are two types of people in this world— those that propel you forward and those that drag you down. Figure out who these people are in your life and stop making time for the ones that drag you down because, the longer you stay around them, the more similar to them you become. If you have any leeches in your life, grab a lighter and burn them off.

3. You don't have to apologize.

I bet you apologize for everything. I bet people tell you that you don't have to apologize. Cut it out. You sound like a broken record. You may constantly be apologizing for everything because you want to hear that it's OK. You may need to be reassured that everything is OK from the people around you. Stop placing so much value on what others think of you. You will be happier, I promise. Worry about yourself and that you're doing everything to the best of your abilities and everything will be OK.

4. Cutting loose is essential.

Work hard, play hard. At the end of my freshman year, my professor said to me, "It's OK to have fun! Go out with your friends; take a break from homework and practicing." If my professor said this to me, then that should paint a pretty clear picture for you of how desperately I needed to cut loose. Go to a party. Do something that makes you question your morals. It is college, after all. This is the time when you're supposed to be discovering yourself and having fun. Stop hiding. These four years will fly by faster than a jet, so make them count. Just don't get pregnant, don't get anyone else pregnant, don't destroy public property, and don't hurt yourself or anyone else, and you will be fine.

5. Making "me" time keeps you sane.

Having so many people around you that you have to entertain can be absolutely exhausting, even for a social butterfly. Take time out of the week to spend with yourself. It's called recharging. Some people need to recharge more often than others. Find out how much and how often you need to recharge. It's probably the best thing you could do to maintain your mental health. Then, you get to go out into the world and be the best you that you can be.

6. Treating yourself well is a must.

Pamper yourself. Girls, go get your nails done and don't feel guilty. You are allowed to use your time to take care of yourself, too, not just others. Go get a back massage. You could probably use one because people keep running over you. Get a foot massage. You probably need one of those, too, since you're probably running around like a crazy person, solving problems. Put the book down, close your inbox, put your phone on silent, and go eat. You need to be able to have enough time to take care of the bare necessities, like food, using the restroom, and getting some sleep.

7. You must make time to do what you love.

Remember that, if you do not make time to do what you love, pretty soon, you will forget what you love. This goes for the people in your life, as well as any hobbies or passions that you have. Make time for things that make your soul happy. It can be anything— from working out, playing an instrument, singing, gardening, talking to your family, and having dinner with the people you love, to the things that you couldn't live without. Don't forget what makes you happy.

8. Your opinions matter.

Stop being quiet and keeping your mouth shut all the time. Remember, if you don't have enemies, it means that you have never stood up for anything you believed in. This doesn't mean that you should just go around running your mouth like an idiot. Make it count. Also, you should never talk back to your boss, unless you plan to quit. You must be considerate of the opinions of others, but, in the process, don't forget that you have a voice, too. Most certainly, don't let irrelevant people belittle you. Let them hear your roar.

9. Socializing is something that you have to be comfortable with.

Don't be a hermit. Come out of your hiding place and talk to people. If you find that you are closing yourself off, talking to people can be very refreshing. If you're around people too much, you become tired. If you are alone all of the time, you become depressed. There is a balance— find it. Join some kind of organization that forces you to meet at least once a week to see various people. This will get you out of your comfort zone.

10. You have the right to be happy.

This is the most important thing that you must realize. Make your life about you. Set your own goals and don't stop until you achieve them. It is not healthy to have your happiness depend on the happiness of others. There are a lot of people in this world that you will not be able to help— that doesn't mean you shouldn't try, but remember that you have the right to be happy, even if the people around you are not happy. Rather than depending on their happiness, let them depend on yours. In other words, inspire the people around you to smile when they see you. Be that positive light that smiles so bright that it's contagious.

Stop living the life of a doormat. If the people walking all over you cared about you, then they wouldn't condemn you to a life beneath their feet. Life is about growth. Part of that growth is in finding your roar. Be a lion. A lion is majestic, confident, fierce, strong, agile, intelligent, and relentless. Nobody messes with a lion. Find your roar, let it be heard, and inspire others to do the same.