Growing up happens so fast. It's true—in a blink of an eye you suddenly find yourself in college. Since I've been in college, I've found that the biggest struggles are relationships, finding friends or taking the right classes, and we always forget to love ourselves in the process. Life gets very overwhelming; you're becoming involved in campus activities, you’re working and you're probably trying to figure out your Friday night plans. All of this can easily consume you before you know it. Just remember you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Please do yourself a favor and breathe, take a step back and take some time for yourself.

So that boy you thought was cute in chemistry didn’t text you back tonight, who cares? That doesn’t mean you’re not good enough; it means you smile and move on. Believe me I know it's easier said than done, but there are plenty more fish in the sea. I think the hardest time to find your groove is after a breakup, or when things end the way you didn’t expect between you and someone else. Take some time to do something for yourself. Honestly, take some time away from finding a relationship; you can be just as happy or perhaps happier on your own. Being with just yourself doesn’t mean that you are alone, you have your friends and your family, never think you are alone in this world. There are hundreds of people in this world who are young, hot and single; take the time to reach out and meet those people who are just like you. Treat yourself to a pedicure and a manicure by yourself so you can kick back and relax. Go find a book to read and tan all day by the pool. Not only will you be relaxed, you'll be happy with your new glow at the end of the day. When your friends try to set you upon dates, you should only go when you no longer care about that boy, because remember you rule your world.

Sometimes your social life can be very time-consuming and you get too worried that if you don’t go out tonight—which happens to be a Monday, the night before a big exam—your friends will stop inviting you out. Well, don’t ever think that the night before an exam is a perfect way to revitalize yourself and be at peace and mind with yourself. Take a nice long and warm bubble bath and light some candles to rejuvenate your mind and skin, and go get that A on your exam that you worked so hard for.

Success is a huge part of loving yourself, how can you succeed without having confidence in yourself? I have found my most proud moments have been the times I've succeeded in something while striving hard to get it. It could be the fact you ran three miles for the day or chose a salad over curly fries. Anything that makes you feel as though you have won is what is important to feeling good.

Something I find very important with loving yourself isn’t just loving your soul, but loving your body as well. Something that has helped me love my body is to stand in front of a mirror after showering, or better yet when you have on your “going out face,” you pick out your favorite parts of yourself on your own body. It sounds weird but it truly works. People love a person full of confidence, someone who can move the room with just a smile. Loving yourself does not mean you’re in love with yourself, it means finding the true meaning of happiness within yourself. When you can wake up in the morning stretch, smile and mean it, you have learned to love yourself and I promise that will probably be the best feeling you will ever feel.