Happy New Year everybody! We are all blessed to have made it to see 2017, and we miss those who did not get to make it into the new year with us. I am amazed at how much growth I have seen in not only the people around me, but myself. 2016 was a year for the books. It taught me so much, and I learned about how I react in different situations throughout life such as friendships, relationships, school, my job, my relationship with God, the list goes on and on and on. Here are some things that 2016 taught me.

First and foremost, patience was one of the greatest lessons I was taught in 2016. I had to realize that I had to be patient with others because they don't have the same mindset that I do when it comes to certain things. I had to learn that some people don't think as quick or as slow as I do. At times I could get frustrated with that, but I had to learn how to deal with it and pray with it. For example, my customers at my job. I have to be extremely patient because I seriously don't know why it's so hard to order a Cook Out tray. It will take someone who has a doctorate degree almost 5 minutes to order a simple tray but a six year old 30 seconds. No exaggeration at all.

The second lesson was learning to let go. If you know me, you know I'm the sweetest person, yet very outspoken. During my sophomore and first semester of junior year of college, I went through different things that many don't know about because I can be really closed off at times. I would be there for friends who needed me, but would not do the same for me when I really needed someone. In the middle of 2016, I seriously had a total breakdown and I had to cry out to God for help because I had no idea what to do anymore. With that, I decided to do a detox from people. I only had a few close friends I would talk to, but I cleaned out my social media platforms of people I knew meant me no good. I deleted hundreds of contacts and pictures from my phone. It was hard, but it had to be done and I feel so much better because I learned to let go.

The third lesson I learned was how to network. Like I said, sophomore year I was just going through it. I would literally find any reason not to go out with friends or go to social events on campus. I would just stay in bed and sleep or scroll through Twitter or watch Netflix. Junior year, I said I had to change that and network. I became the secretary of the gospel ensemble that I'm involved with. I started talking to people more, and I also joined the greatest brotherhood ever! On November 20th, 2016, I became a brother of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity along with 20 other wonderful, intelligent, inspirational young men and women. I learned from my fraternity and my brothers that I can do whatever I put my mind to, have fun, and be professional at the same time (Shout out to the 21 Savages!).

In 2016, I lost friends, gained friends, laughed, cried, made memories, saw babies be born, watched old relatives pass away after leaving beautiful legacies, listened to amazing music, grew closer to God, and overall grew as a person. I'm not going to lie, 2016 sucked to some extent, but it was still a great year. I'm so happy to be here in 2017 writing this, and I cannot wait to see how much more I can grow as a person during the new year.

2017, show me what you're working with because I'm ready.