I think everyone, especially first year students, are able (and ready) to say that the time has almost come to say goodbye to the first semester of the 2016-2017 school year.

The first semester of college was a semester full of challenges, experiences, accomplishments, downfalls, changes, and, most importantly, lessons.

For some, a whirlwind of excitement and exhaustion took over as the recruitment process and rush week kicked off the semester. For others, meticulous planning for dorm rooms and classes occupied the mind way before arriving to campus for the first time. However, all of us endured the mixed emotions that came with leaving home for the first time to embark on a new adventure.

Little did we know that this adventure would often leave us feeling lonely, apprehensive, anxious, and confused. Before coming to college, we soaked up all of the good stories and all of the good things we had heard about being in college, completely blindsided to the fact that independence and freedom doesn't always mean living on cloud nine.

Sure, we get to live on our own without anyone telling us what to do. Our freedom is so much greater than what we were used to in high school, and undoubtedly, it is great.

But there's no denying the fact that, at times, we miss our family. We miss the comfort of our own home and hometown, and we miss our long time friends that are no longer a car ride away. We miss having our pets there for us when we had no one else. And missing all of what we are used to is normal, and it's okay. But we can't hold ourselves back from trying new things and stepping outside of our comfort zone just because we're homesick and we fear change. College is a time to grow, a time to take full advantage of the opportunities that lay in front of us, and a time to expand our horizons and challenge ourselves to step out of our comfort zone.

So here's to saying goodbye to the first semester, saying goodbye to fear of what lies ahead, dwelling on the past, and letting apprehension restrain our passions and opportunities. Forgiving ourselves for skipped classes, getting bad grades, and making decisions we wish we wouldn't have. Forgetting the people who bring us down, focusing on ourselves, and facing the challenges in front of us.

Let's leave the first semester of college in our past, and use the lessons and challenges we've learned to help us grow in the next semester and in the future. We only get one real shot at the college experience, so why not set our doubts and fears to the side and pursue our goals and dreams instead to make ourselves into the best person we can possibly be?