To many of us, it feels as if it were yesterday that our parents helped us unpack all of our belongings and left us to live on our own for the first time. Yet here we are, about to repack our entire room back into boxes, lock our doors for the last time and leave our room as barren as we found it. Our freshman year is over, and in four months we will be replaced by a new group of clueless students wandering aimlessly around campus. We have all grown over the course of this year, whether we realize it or not, for better or for worse. So, before we move on to our exciting summers, I wanted to give freshman year some closure. Thank you, freshman year...

For forcing me to lean into discomfort.

College, I learned, is all about being uncomfortable. It is about walking into a classroom of strangers and forcing yourself to say hi to the person sitting next you (or worse, walking into the wrong classroom and having to show up late to your next class and explain why you not there on time), signing up for activities and committees that you would not have imagined yourself being a part of, and uncovering aspects of yourself that you never knew existed. I was so accustomed to and comfortable in my town and the people in it, knowing exactly what to expect every day. But, freshman year helped me to remember that so much more exists than my small town, and it pushed me to expand and interact with people who have completely different backgrounds and personalities, many of whom I could not imagine my time here without.

For teaching me that rejection is not the end of the world.

When you are a freshman, you want to try to take advantage of everything your college has to offer, and you therefore begin to apply for various positions and groups on campus. And, coming from high school, you may expect to get most of them--at least, that is how I felt. However, college was quite the wake up call, because I did not get most of the positions I applied for. Let's be honest: rejection sucks. But, I've learned that it is honestly not the end of the world. Because I was not accepted into some clubs, I became involved in others that I could not imagine my freshman year experience without. Rejection is never easy, but it leaves you with two options: to become discouraged and sulk, or to try again with something else and move on with your life.

For showing me that it's okay to eat alone.

As absurd as it sounds, before coming to college I had this intrinsic fear of eating alone (I mean, didn't everyone else?). I was worried that I would look awkward, especially if everyone around me was eating with another person or socializing in some way. But after entering college I soon learned that eating alone is actually quite enjoyable, especially because at times it is very difficult to have time to yourself. Eating alone every once in a while is not the end of the world, as I very quickly discovered, and I came to a very quick conclusion: no one actually cares that you are eating alone. Upon entering college, students feel as though they must always be socializing in order to meet as many people as possible, which means they stay up when they would rather sleep, go out when they would rather watch Netflix and do homework in groups rather than alone, altering their focus. However, as freshmen we soon understood that we do not always have to be with others, and that no one will care if we say no to going out or would rather study alone in the library than in the student center with peers.

For introducing me to some more-than-decent people.

Freshman year has shown me some of the kindest hearts, funniest personalities, and altogether loveliest humans I will ever have the privilege of knowing and who I hope to get to know more in years to come. Through my classes, activities, residence hall and essentially everywhere else I have come to know some truly amazing people, many of which I admire greatly and who act as my role models. I have become acquainted with such a wide variety of people throughout the year, all with different personalities and all who have enhanced my experience up to this point. The people I have met over the course of the year are so hard-working, dedicated and passionate about everything they do, and as corny as it is, they inspire me to be my best.

And to the upcoming freshman class...

PLEASE, do not be afraid to be freshman! Feel awkward, get lost on campus, make a lot of small talk and get homesick. Get nervous on your first day of classes, study for hours in the library and eat alone. All of these things are going to be what make your freshman year so memorable.

Peace out freshman year,

Thanks for treating me so well.