Life changes us all in many different ways for the most random and detailed reasons imaginable. No one was ever meant to stay the same from one second to the next, let alone from one year to the next. After the craziness of this past year settled into my mind, I find myself to be a completely new person.

For starters, my self-progress was greatly emphasized with the important phase of starting college this fall. I arrived at Longwood University as a person once again trying to find my place in my new world. After this busy yet insanely amazing semester, I am much more sure of myself than I ever have been before. Somehow, by some gracious miracle, I actually managed to make the very popular habits of procrastination less popular in my studying time. I am proud of my academic accomplishments because of the determination behind my work.

I have also changed on the inside this year. I have a much clearer sense of who I am and what my goals are now. I know exactly what direction I am immediately taking with my major. Overall, I have better self-assurance of who I am and who I want to be someday. In regards to my future as a writer, I practice more and more at polishing my creative skills in a professional way that I was not aware of a year ago.

This year has also given me more clarity in my friendships as well. Meeting new college friends has been such a wild and amazing experience. Being away also makes me appreciate the friends and family back home that I cherish so much. Getting to know new friends with unique perspectives helps me understand more about the world in ways that I would not have dreamed of a year ago.

2018 may have been an overall insane year, but for me, it had nothing to do with hurricanes or political turmoil we see all over the world. I have learned and experienced a lot that I could not have even conceived of dealing with a year ago. My life has changed immensely throughout this year, but I am so pleased to admit that the changes have only been for the better.