It's been a long time coming since I've started opening up and have begun saying "yes" more. I've always been the person to second guess everything I do, and because of that, I've missed out on so many opportunities. In certain situations, you have to let go and think of what could go right instead of wrong and that's all if you just say "yes." Now I'm not saying to say yes to every single thing that you come across, but it's always good to just go with the flow and let everything happen naturally.

After completing a year of college and finally realizing the ups and downs of it all, I've understood one thing and that is that you'll come across so many instances during your time at college where there is possibility for so much growth and opportunity. In the end, you will only end up achieving those opportunities if you break out of your shell and say "yes." For any incoming freshmen reading this or those who have already completed their first year, they can agree with me that you will get nowhere during your time at college if you don't put yourself out there and strive to do more. I remember during my first week at Loyola, I signed up for basically every single organization, not knowing what exactly I was signing up for. It was the voice inside of me that said to just go for it and not hold back. I mean, I still got emails from the Science Club until the end of school, but exposing myself to so many different things definitely opened up a lot of doors for me.

Saying "yes" will help you to achieve so much more than you can imagine. The number of times you say "no" just leads up to the thought of what could have been, if I just said "yes." I'll never forget the day when my dad told me that we were moving to Singapore. At the time, I felt as if that was the worst decision that he had made, but the opportunities and growth that came from living there is something which couldn't have been achieved anywhere else. Those who have lived in another country or have studied abroad can attest to the fact that the experiences and the opportunities that you get there can't be matched with anything else. Living on a completely different continent allowed me to say "yes" to more things, as I knew that once I left this place, I wouldn't get back these experiences or opportunities anywhere else.

Saying "yes" will only lead you to success and will give you the opportunity to excel and grow in so many ways. For anyone whose ever second guessed themselves or have thought twice about saying "yes," don't.