So far my college experience has been one hell of a ride. With all of its ups and downs, twists and turns, I never know what lies ahead. One thing is certain, though: I'm only halfway through my undergraduate experience, and if I have learned so much up until now, who knows what will happen within the next two years?

I'm less than one month away from school starting up again and commencing my junior year. I can't wait to go back and start my new job, see my friends again, and be independent. Looking back, I still can't believe that I have made it this far and much less believe all the amazing opportunities that I have received. I have traveled to various leadership conferences across the United States, gone to Mexico for a summer internship, worked with people in the administration who I look up to, and made so many lasting memories.

My college experience has made me into the person that I am today. I like to consider myself someone who likes to take on a challenge or two. I want to be as involved as I can so I can get my money's worth from the tuition that I'm paying. However, though I have had my share of successes at school, I have also had my share of failures.

However, these failures and the obstacles that I have had to face have made me into a much better person. I'm no longer the same person I was when I first started out my college experience. I've had time to grow and learn from those who have been where I am now.

Before coming into college, I was a person who was not heavily involved in school activities and kept to myself. I was not very confident in myself and I felt that I needed to always prove something to others so I could be accepted. I used to let others dictate my life and my choices. Now I look at that who I used to be and that isn't me anymore. I have matured and learned to no longer have those feelings of insecurity as often as I used too.

This summer was when I did the most growing and where I learned the most about myself. I got to meet so many new people, travel to conferences and improve myself as a leader for my community. However, as great as this summer was for me, it was also the most difficult because of so many things that life decided to throw at me all at once. But with everything going on, all the ups and downs happening one right after another, I saw that I am much stronger than I ever thought I was.

I learned to be myself and to not really let other peoples' views and opinions dictate my life. I also learned that I need to take time for myself, that it's okay to need some alone time to reflect and to get my thoughts sorted out.

I believe this is what college is about: It's where you find who you really are and you grow as a person. A quote that I'd like to share and believe holds true is, "We're at a point in our lives where things are going to fall apart, yet other things are coming together at the same time" (Anonymous). This has been my college experience in a nutshell, and it will continue to be this way for a while, so all I have left to do is keep my head up and continue to grow.