As the year comes to an end, I've learned one of many things: pain won't last forever. At some point, life will become beautiful again. You are loved, surrounded by people who remind you that life is good, and you have a purpose. It's time to stop reflecting on the negatives and dwell on the positives. Because at some point, the clouds will lift and the sun will rise once again.

You need to be selfish sometimes.

There needs to be a point where you realize that sometimes to receive your happiness, you need to cut off people who bring you negative energy. There does not need to be an apology or explanation, you are allowed to cut off whoever you want whenever you want, and you shouldn't feel guilty. You have a right to involve whoever you want in your life. If you decide that someone isn't benefiting you anymore, you should not feel as if you have to keep them around for their own sake. They will learn how to live without you.

Remember your worth and you'll never accept less than the best.

For a long time, I allowed people I loved to step all over me because I wanted them in my life. After tears and feeling worthless, I decided to take charge and stop letting these people control me. I knew I deserved better, so I left the negative energy behind and upgraded to people that made me happy. You're better off finding new people and creating new memories than being surrounded by toxicity and reliving the past.

Stop dwelling on your past. Focus on the now.

Your past cannot be what haunts you for the rest of your existence. There has to be a point where you let go of events that happened, no matter how hard it may seem. Reliving things will only make it more difficult to move past them. Focus on what you have in your life right at this moment, whether that be your group of friends, a significant other, or family members. They are the good in your life.

Your friends and family are the most beautiful people to cherish.

My best friends are the people I rely on for everything, from advice to outfit inspiration to midnight talks. They are people I could not imagine living without, and keep me sane at the darkest of moments. They have kept me going even when it seems like I can't go on any longer. As for my family, my parents are some of the funniest people I've ever met. Although they annoy me sometimes, I love them to the ends of this earth. Your closest friends and family are the people that have stuck with you through everything, and you should never take them for granted.

Life is an adventure.

I like to think of life as a rollercoaster; there are intense highs, intense lows, and it all just slowly and steadily comes to a halt. We all have the chance to make life the best it can possibly be, and although it's nearly impossible to always see the bright side of things, it's worth a shot. There is pain, and there is recovery. You get to decide how you let certain things impact you. So, that means that sometimes you just need to ride out the intense lows to get one step closer to your highs.

Live, and let live.

The new experiences I have made throughout my first semester of college have been unforgettable, and would have not been possible if not for my amazing college friends. The adventures I've gone on during breaks with my hometown friends have taught me so much about myself and the kind of person I want to be. Life is one of the craziest adventures any of us will ever go on, and we are all lucky to be alive at this moment. You are in control of your life and who want to be, so get in the front seat, take the wheel, and live your best life.