Your freshman year of college is an interesting time in your life. It is time to grow and learn new things about yourself and other people. New friendships are created and some of the things you thought were true, turn out to be completely wrong. Living with a roommate for the first time, being away from your family and hometown friends, and trying to find your balance all present new challenges. As freshman year comes to a close and I leave my freshman dorm for the last time, I can reflect on what this year has given to me or taken away. This year has had its ups and downs, but it was a great experience, nevertheless.

As I checked out with my RA and said goodbye to friends for the summer, it was a little bittersweet. I know that I would see these people again in the fall, but I also knew that a few months apart, could change our lives a lot. I love the friendships I have already made and I cannot wait for them to develop. Some of these girls I can see myself talking to 20 years from now.

College is harder than high school. The classes are challenging and sometimes it seems as if the professor is talking in a different language. It's crazy to think that I have already experienced two semesters of it, but I am going to go back for six more. The tests are harder and for most classes there isn't homework, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't study, even if it is not required. Also, a lot of professors don't take attendance, which makes some people say, "That means I never have to go to my 8 A.M." Even if that is the case, go anyways, you or your parent is wasting money if you don't show up to class. I do not think I could say thank you enough to some of the professors I have had this past year, they care not just about my academics, but how I am doing as a whole.

Living with a roommate can be challenging at times. I was used to having a room to myself and not having to share, because it was my room. Sharing with someone else takes a lot of getting used to. You may not always be ready to go to bed at the same time and other times you may just want to be alone, but inevitably you cannot. If you are lucky, then you will end up with a roommate like I did. Sure there were times when we did not see eye-to-eye, but we worked through it. She put up with my crazy and I put up with hers.

Not seeing my family everyday was one of the most challenging, yet most rewarding parts of this year. I came from a house where all four of us sat down to eat dinner at the same time every night, my mom would cook, we would pray, eat, and explain anything interesting from our day. I missed this a lot at the beginning of first semester because there are no homecooked meals, I couldn't hear my mom and dad talking about their crazy days at work, and I couldn't look across the table while I was laughing and laugh even harder with my brother. The reason this was rewarding though was that I found out who I was.

This year I learned that I am independent and strong and that I don't need to rely on someone else to tell me what to do. I learned how to handle the hard stuff on my own. I learned that I am a work in progress and that I need to let things play out on their own. I learned that my family is extremely important to me and I love them unconditionally. I learned that having a well balanced life is something that takes work. The most important thing I learned this year was that I am okay on my own.

Freshman year was a crazy ride, I cannot wait to see what the next years bring. I plan on coming back swinging.