Halfway done with college!

Yikes.

As exciting and terrifying as this news is, I want to take a moment to look back at what got me here, and what I have learned along the way.

But before we do, let me get one thing straight - I don’t normally write like this, so I wouldn't get used to it.

I've got a lot to say, so sit back and relax as I overload you with a fun mixture of information and knowledge I've accumulated from this past school year.

Part 1:

Sophomore year was the worst and best year of my life.

My experiences this year have emulated my high school experiences in an unbelievably similar way. Freshman year of high school I hung on to anyone simply to be comfortable in a new environment and have friends. Sophomore year I continued learning the ropes, and met new people along the way. Junior year it all finally started to make sense - I established friendships that were right for me, and I knew the ins and outs of the school like the back of my hand. Then senior year comes. You think you run the school, living the high life, you finally know everyone in your grade, and then boom. It’s all over. Done. You graduate and you no longer see half the people you associated with. Despite the ups and downs of these four years, I would not change my high school experiences because I could not have gone through sophomore year of college without them.

But, why?

Because this school year I lost the freshman year friendships that made me feel comfortable at the start of college. Popping this secluded bubble made sophomore year of college quickly shift from comfortable to uncomfortable, and made me feel like I was back in 2013 sitting in class during my sophomore year of high school. I worked through the uncomfortable confusion then, so why wouldn't I be able to work through it now? Although scary and unknown, I have learned that being uncomfortable is a good thing. This year, by coming into contact with new people, I eventually became aware of so many new things. New places. New points of view. New opportunities. If I stayed in the bubble I was in, I would not have found my place on campus, and wouldn’t be looking forward to my junior and senior years as much as I am now. Straying away from what you know is scary, but in the end it is totally worth it.

And so...

To my friends and everyone new that I have met this semester:

You’ve stuck with me this semester and welcomed me right in. Spring semester has been totally different from the fall semester, and I am so happy to have met every single one of you.

Part 2:

Finding writing this year has increased my confidence:

Yes, papers are still dreadful. Similar to most college students, writing is not exactly my idea of fun. I never in a million years would have thought I would spend my free time writing, but it provides me with a sense of fulfillment. These articles are not a diary, but my own personal thought process. Things to say to make up for years of not saying anything. Things I’ve learned by doing the wrong thing. Things I’m too scared to say, and am working on. Things I wish to change. Things I like. Things to make people laugh. Things that are interesting to the ones around me because absolutely anything can be turned into a topic idea, you just have to listen for it. Writing has given me a voice, and I am not afraid to use it.

Part 3:

The I'm Sorrys

I owe a lot of these!

Numero uno. There have been a handful of people that I have lost contact with this year and since high school, and I let it happen. This is an unfortunate quality of mine that I’m scarily good at. I cope by carrying on as if it never happened, and for that, I’m sorry.

Numero dos. I know my humor and style of writing is not for everyone. I realize it has offended and shocked people. I apologize to anyone that my humor or my articles have offended. “Who can I target” or “who am I out to get this week” are never my intentions when I write articles. The basis of my humor is simply to relate to people. Criticism will always help me improve, but it will not make me throw away everything I stand for. I will not apologize for being myself.

Part 4:

The Thank Yous

I owe a very large thank you. So many thank yous to anyone and everyone who reads my articles, whether they’re my family, friends, loyal and curious middle school, high school, and college classmates, or complete strangers. I see you. You are noticed. Nothing is more satisfying than someone acknowledging work that you spent more hours on than work that is going to impact your GPA. And thank you to those who read them and don’t enjoy them. A view is a view, you still read it, and I’ll take it. So thank you, I don’t only write for me, but for you all.

Part 5:

Random bits of advice from me, a philosopher:

You will never really be happy if you continuously are looking for satisfaction in other people. Surround yourself with people that support you, and if they don’t you have to leave them. Really. You are already alone, so why not be on your own for a bit and find people that do? You have absolutely nothing to lose… speaking from experience here.

If you know someone, say hello, even if it is the smallest connection. It will mean something to them that you went out of your way to do so, and they will remember it. Doing nothing is easy - it takes courage to be kind.

Try your best to not take yourself too seriously. Make fun of yourself. Dish it and take it. Life’s more fun with a balanced sincere to roast ratio.

Part 6:

Growing up is a crazy, beneficial, confusing process.

You’re happy one moment, stressed the other, sad another, and laughing the next. It’s a never ending cycle in college. Be grateful for every moment of it. Don’t realize how exhilarating it is when it’s gone and the emotional roller coasters start to slow down a bit.

All of this is much easier said than done, and I know that. So trust me when I say there’s going to be so much more to learn, and so many more I’m sorrys, thank yous, random philosophical advice, and articles to come, because I’m only halfway through.