You are the books you read, the movies you watch, the music you listen to, the places you go, and most importantly, the people you meet. The people that surround you are the reason you are you. I've come to realize this lately. I think when you reach college is when you truly realize how crucial the vibes of others around you are. You know those people who say hello to everyone they pass on the street? Why are there not more people like them around college? Everyone walks around like zombies, miserable and overwhelmed by stress. Not only that. Why are there not more people like that in this entire world? There are far too many people who just go through the motions with blank looks on their faces.

It's obvious to most that your closest friends and family make up who you are. However, people don't realize even the people you don't spend as much time around affect you. An acquaintance tells you "you're beautiful." That exchange has the potential to change your perspective of your appearance. You make a friend in class. You could easily pick up her bad study habits. So that friend that everyone has who finds the negative in everything is bound to rub off on you. Humans are so impressionable.

As we grow older, we realize happiness is the most important thing in the world. The choice to be happy is in your hands and no one else's. So let your people reflect that. Associate yourself with people that tell you that you are beautiful. People that laugh a lot. People that don't get caught up in frivolous things like the way someone looked at you. People that smile at random people they pass on the street. People that inspire you. Positivity is contagious. And if you find it hard to avoid the negative people in your life, be so positive that they want to avoid you.