1. Spend the money!

I’m the person who saved over half my graduation money from high school for something special, for what exactly? I’m not sure. It’s been sitting in a savings account for over 3 years. This year in college, I just decided to spend the money, not all of it, but some of it. Why? I chose to spend the money to make memories - memories that I will cherish forever. Spring Break in Daytona was a “spend the money” trip and it is a trip I will be forever grateful I took. You don’t know fun until you pack up a small car and go to the beach with 10 friends to eat pizza for days in a row. I learned this year that the memories, the trips, the fun is worth spending the money. You’ll never get these days back.

2. Go out with your friends, it’s better than the couch.

Sure, your couch is comfy and no one actually likes makeup or tight pants, but it’s worth it. Go out with your friends while you can. Get your lazy butt off the couch. One day you’ll wish you would have. I learned to spend 99% of my free time this year with my friend; it has been the best year so far. Make the memories with them. Dance until you have blisters on your feet. Eat the Jimmy John’s at 2am with them until you’re belly laughing. I promise it’s worth it. I learned your friends will always bring you more laughter, love and happiness than your couch ever will.

3. LOVE YO SELF!!!

Seriously. I know we hear this all the time, but I’m telling you, this year I fell in love with myself, more than I ever have. I don’t mean I love myself as in “damn, I look good in this picture.” I mean that I love myself enough to invest time in things that make me happy, things that make me smile. I like doing things for myself, spending time with myself and the list goes on. I think this lesson in life is such an important one because loving ourselves is the root of all other things. When you love yourself your entire outlook on life changes. I’m glad I learned how important I am, how loved I deserve to be & how much I am worth.

4. Stop stressing.

This year I learned to stop stressing. I learned to stop beating myself up because I can’t always get everything right or get an A on every single assignment. I learned that my mental health is more important than stressing to the point where I make myself sick and miserable. I learned to worry when it’s important and to go with the flow when it’s all I can do. I learned I can only do so much. I can only stretch so far, so why stress about every single thing that is beyond my control?

5. Your best friends can become your best friends in a matter of days.

They say you meet friends in college that you will keep forever. I hope that is true. I have made some of the best friends since my freshman year here, but my junior year I met some of the people I am so privileged to call my best friends. People I have known for YEARS have not be half as good to me as people I’ve known for less than a year. I can’t believe how this works. I can’t believe how fast you can gain a best friend and experience things with them. I’m so grateful for the friends I gained this year. I’m thankful that my best friends were made in days this year. I learned the meaning of true friendship this year.

6. Cherish your family time

Seriously, go hug them. All of them. Right now. Scream from your bedroom and tell them you love them because one day you won’t be bedrooms away from them to scream it. It’s sad how fast we grow up and how fast life can go full circle around us, but I’ve learned to appreciate the feeling of love, family, laughter and happiness. I have cherished this year with my family more than any other time with them. I have learned to never take a moment for granted with them because one day, I will miss being in the same house as them.

7. Hold on tight.

You think you have all this time in college. You show up and think you have all this time to be young, carefree, make friends, drink the $5 all-you-can-drink on Thursdays, but you don’t. Hold on tight. Hold on tight because the years will fly by. I realized I graduate next spring. Am I ready for my college life to be over? Absolutely not. I’m not ready to be a real adult all the time (so exhausting). I’m not ready to let go of this college life I love so much. I learned to hold on tight to these years because they fly by.

8. Don't wish it all away.

I know there are stressful exam filled days and library days, but don't wish these days away. I wish I would have appreciated the time I have had in college more instead of saying, "I can't wait to graduate." I discovered this year that I am not ready to graduate. I'm not ready to be finished with college in one short year.

9. My girlfriends are better than ANY guy.

A lot of people think you buy the jean skirt for the guy, you put the makeup on for the guy, you go out for the guy, and so on. I don't. I do it for my girlfriends. After all, they are way better than any guy. Pick your girlfriends over guys right now, you'll be glad you did. College is about finding your bridesmaids, not your groom.

10. I am so strong

I have been through SO many things this year that have brought me smiles, but I have been through some shit (sorry it deserved the curse word) that has made me strong. I have addressed mental health issues. I have had my heart shattered. I have had devastating news that is so upsetting. I have seen some people's true colors. I came out stronger because of this. I came out smiling regardless of the issues. I learned that I am so strong.

Junior Year was one year I would never trade for the world.