I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they will endure in the next few months as a brand new college student. Certainly did not think I would have changed so much from the person I was in high school or even who I came in as. I always thought I would be the sweet girl that came from Florida. Though still sweet, I have learned so much, not only about myself but of the people around me. This semester has had an impact on every single freshman that has walked through their respective school. I quickly learned that change is not only okay but very much needed.

I came into college as the “just broke up with her long-term high school sweetheart and very confused on life”. Still, in August I was naive about the world, I had never been single. The rebound stage was short, I was never the person to have the need to rebound. Let’s just say things changed and mistakes were made and I do still regret the things I did, especially when I hurt people I cared so much for. There was so much drama revolving around me and my personal “love life” that it got to be too much. I was too focused on what people thought of me rather than improving myself and not caring about anyone else. Boys have created havoc in my life I was never prepared for. Once I learned that being single is okay, I was able to be the person I am now at the end of the semester.

I quickly learned where the best parties were and how to get into each fraternity house. I started drinking for the first time in my life and I was never the party person. After a couple weekends of throwing up in my dorm room and having some rough hangover Sundays, the party scene had begun to wear off. I will still go out and have a good time, but I definitely don’t need to drink like I was. Sorry mom, I may still have a shot or two before I go out, but know I am being a lot smarter about my decisions.

Academically, I came in truly believing I was the next Arizona Robbins and I was going to be the best pediatric surgeon the world had ever seen. I gave that pipe dream up real quick when I realized I hated being in my Intro to Biology class. So, I went back to what I knew best, I know how to write. I decided to jump to the other side of the spectrum and become a broadcast and media productions major with (hopefully) a minor in writing. It is totally okay if you don’t know what you want to do, this is the time to figure it out.

Your first semester at college is going to be a wild experience. The next few months will be the toughest time you will go through. Everything from the people to the new campus will be a brand new experience. It isn’t all bad news, though. You will meet some of the best friends who will end up like family just by the end of the semester. You will learn to cope with your stress and figure out what you really want to do. The mistakes you make in the first semester of college do not reflect who you are as long as you work hard to learn from those mistakes. This is the time to be stupid, to make irrational decisions, you wouldn’t want to be doing this your senior year, would you? So, here’s to the stupid decisions and the drunken mistakes because this is the time to learn who you are in this world. Be cautious, though, it can get a little messy.