As I sit here trying to let it sink in that I am now a senior in college, I can’t help but think about how fast the years have flown by. Being a big fish in a little pond at my high-school and graduating with 59 other students to being a little fish in a big pond in a college with over 20,000 students was definitely a huge adjustment. Freshman year consisted of moving away from my mom for the first time in 18 years, settling down into my little dorm with three complete strangers, eating meal plan on campus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, mastering the art of microwavable mac and cheese, meeting some of my best friends, tailgating, getting asked to a fraternity formal, painting the dreaded cooler for my date and conquering many all nighters to pass my exams. 

Sophomore year was full of new experiences like joining the best sorority and meeting so many like-minded and driven girls, having a great time at the best bid day ever, forming a passion for my sorority’s Breast Cancer education and awareness philanthropy, forming sisterhoods and performing community service for my college town and the surrounding towns, bonding with the 60 other girls in my pledge class, developing an addiction to coffee, stressing a little too much about classes, officially declaring my major, finishing all my core classes, and dressing up for all of the fun socials, date nights, semi-formals and formals.

This past year I got a sorority little sister who I call my “mini-me,” began work at my first part-time job, watched the Georgia Southern Eagles win a football game against the Florida Gators, enjoyed lots of road trips, bonded with awesome roommates, celebrated my 21st birthday, ate too much pizza, drank too much wine and even finished some of the most challenging classes I've ever taken. Now that it has come to a close, I cannot help but have mixed feelings. I am one step closer to being done with classes and stressful tests, but also closer to moving away from some of the best people I have ever met and finding a big girl job.     

The friendships, sisterhoods and memories I’ve created in the past three years make me thankful that I’ve had so many opportunities to branch out and meet so many amazing new people. I’m confident in saying that I got to enjoy all of the crazy experiences that college has to offer. The hard classes, grades and accomplishments I’ve completed make me proud and prove that a little determination and a lot of hard work can get you through the toughest struggles. As far as my senior year goes, I am hoping to make even more memories, laugh a lot and not have any mental break-downs about the real world being right around the corner. Overall, I could not imagine my college career being any different, and I can’t wait to see what my senior year of college has in store.