College is one of the most beautiful times and places. In my first semester, I have: grown, been fulfilled, thrived, learned, depended, and discovered. Here are some things I've learned and some ways I've come to love college and really find the beauty in it.

Grow

I've done more of this in the past 5 months than I have all my life. I have been pushed, pulled, and shaped into a competent human being; I have matured beyond my years. The greatest part about this growth is that it will continue. Humans are ever-changing, especially me, and I feel like college provides a great place to do that developing. We experience so much in one place in a short amount of time, which is essential to growth.

Fulfill

College is where I've found purpose. In high school, I had passions and aspirations which still hold true today. However, college has given me a glimpse of the future. I've met other people - some with very similar aspirations, some incredibly different. But I have seen passion at work, in them and myself. The idea that passion needs to be pursued rather than money has been solidified in my heart. My passions do and will fulfill me.

Thrive

College is for the dreamers. It's for the nerds and those helplessly devoted to their interests. In high school, school wasn't cool. Actually liking the subjects you were learning was frowned upon and being excited about anything remotely related to education or learning meant you were weird. I was always okay with that; but, college has made me even more confident in myself and who I am. I've met others who love English and education like I do, as well as those who get excited about dirt and even public relations, things I don't find the least bit interest in. It's the dirt-lovers and others of the same nature who remind me how beautiful passion and devotion are, no matter the subject.

Learn

Knowing things became exciting again in college. I don't think learning has been fun since elementary school. Gen-ed classes are usually a drag, but classes towards my major just thrill the pants off me. I have the privilege of being instructed by professors who pursued what I love most and the students in my classes are in the same major. I basically get to be surrounded by what I love all the time every day and it is the best thing ever. I've always loved learning, but college has made it even more enjoyable.

Depend

In college, you learn to depend on yourself. I expected this to be the scariest and most difficult part of college, but it turned out to be the most rewarding and not nearly as hard as I thought. Living on campus isn't quite independence, but making it every day for a whole semester without my family should count for something. You have to depend on yourself for everything: keeping up with homework, studying, laundry, dishes, keeping your room clean, and trying to manage your time to fit it all in. Time management has been the hardest for me, but it has forced me to lean on myself and has made me much more independent than I thought possible.

Discover

College is full of new things. New experiences new interests, and new friends. I've made bonds with people I would never have socialized with in high school, done things out of my comfort zone that I actually ended up enjoying, and found or rekindled interests. I made the decision to minor in French after remembering just how much I love it and upon the realization that I would be devastated if I stopped taking it just because I fulfilled the requirement. I thought I knew myself well before, but I've learned a lot about myself in my first semester. Major soul searching will happen in college, whether you bring it upon yourself or not.

The essence of college is to find yourself and discover what you love and need to do.