To The First Semester of Sophomore Year

First of all, I'd like to say that I will not miss you at all. I thought freshman year was tough, but honestly it was nothing compared to what I experienced in our first 4 months together and I know it's only going to get harder from here.

But for as much as I hated you, I also appreciate everything you taught me.

You taught me that there's more to life than straight A's.

You were the first semester to give me anything less than a B on a test that I stayed up all night studying for. But you taught me that it wasn't the end of the world. You showed me that failing is every bit a part of succeeding and that the only way to get up is to experience what its like to fall down in the first place.

You taught me that Mom is only a phone call away.

When everything hit me like a brick all at once, you taught me that there's a lot that can be solved with three things: coffee, Jesus, and a phone call to mom to quiet my fears.

You taught me that growing away from freshman friends is inevitable.

Being in a different dorm means not going down the stairs to see my best friends when I'm bored. You taught me that it's okay to go weeks without seeing my best friends from freshman year, because the ones that were truly my best friends were the ones that didn't care and still loved me even if all they got was a quick hi and a hug passing out of the classroom. You taught me the difference between temporary and permanent friends.

You taught me to try new things.

I'll be honest, putting on a cheer uniform was something I never thought I would ever experience in my entire life, but you taught me that it's okay to go out of my comfort zone. You taught me that college is about gaining experiences and pushing yourself in ways you never thought were possible.

You brought new people into my life.

From the 30 girls on my floor that have become nothing short of little sisters to me, to bringing so many unbelievably caring people into my life, it's been nothing short of amazing. I've made friends with people I never would have imagined being part of my life and opened myself up to creating relationships with nearly every person I've come into contact with. You've taught me that kindness goes a hell of a long ways in life and that so long as I stop and appreciate the person beside me, I'll never have to walk alone.

You challenged me.

From taking on a 4th job and adding another class to chalk myself up to 20 credits this semester, you saw me at my worst. You saw me stressed, worn out, and crying from frustration because everything that could go wrong seemed to be going wrong. But you showed me that I could get through it. You challenged me to face a mountain and to start climbing without looking back.

So, even though I'm not sad that I'm half-way done with you, I appreciate these first few months with you. You've encouraged me to grow beyond my freshman year self and for that I'm nothing but grateful for.