Going into college, I knew that it was going to be the best time of my life. I also anticipated some difficult times, but I had hopes that they would just help me to grow.

I certainly was not expected just as many problems to pop up. But it's okay because of the lessons that came with them. While difficult at the time, they ultimately did better me as a person. So here is a thank you letter to the downs, that made the ups all the more better.

Thank you for the financial problems. We all know that college comes with a whole lot of debt, that was not something I doubted. I however, did not anticipate almost not being able to complete the year because of it. Loans and Financial Aid are pretty tricky to navigate, especially when you're the oldest and your parents didn't go to college. There is a lack of knowledge on how to go about financial things that I was not expecting. In the end, after hours in the Financial Aid office, I learned how to take out loans and control my student bill. I am thankful for the knowledge I gained after such a stressful process. Talk about adulting, am I right?

Thank you for the downfalls of living in a dorm with a roommate after not sharing a room for most of your life. In these 9 months I have had 3 different roommates. All who were different. It was weird adjusting to each one of them. Most people have 1 roommate the whole year, of at least for most of it. Yet I am thankful for my variety of roommates because it helped me learn and understand how to approach different people with different things. And don't get my started on the struggle of community bathrooms and all that comes with that. Overall, it helped me realize that life is all about compromise and learning to step outside of my comfort zone.

Thank you for the long nights. Whether it was studying or having fun with friends, I would not trade the long nights for anything. Making memories will not happen if you're always in you're dorm watching Netflix. It's important to have a balance of both relaxation, stress, and fun. Long nights in the library above all taught me my tolerance for caffeine and how to buckle down and get stuff down. Long nights with my friends gave me the best memories I will ever have. Life happens every minute of every day, so it's important to just live it.

Thank you, Freshman year. Your struggles have brought me strength, knowledge, and patience. And I would not trade that for anything. The amazing memories were so worth a few struggles!