When I first moved into my dorm, I don't know what I expected to happen during my freshman year, but everything that has happened has definitely changed me for the better. I learned so much this year that I will take with me, and I am grateful for the lessons I have learned.
Confidence is pretty difficult to gain, but I have come to understand that confidence is all in how you carry yourself. If you believe in yourself, the effect spreads to those around you, giving them confidence in your abilities as well. So strike a power pose and work it.
Another thing that I have learned is that it is really OK to fail.
Failure is inevitable and, quite frankly, you will learn more from your mistakes than from the things you do right. Don't get me wrong -- success is great and feels amazing, but failure is also important. Admit when you don't know what you are doing or when you have done something wrong, and you will be able to learn from the experience.
Here's the thing -- in college you have more freedom. You have more control over various aspects of your life, and you have more decisions to make. My freshman year has taught me that while it is important to help people, I need to make sure I am not hurt in the process. This realization led me to stop caring about holding onto people who do not deserve my attention, so I said goodbye to the friends who were not good for me, and that's OK because it is not about the number of friends you have, it is about the quality of those friendships.
The fact of the matter is that not all of your friendships will last, and that's OK. The way you perceive people will change, and that's also OK. One of the things that I learned pretty quickly was that everyone who seemed like they had their lives together, everyone who seemed to have everything under control, was in the same boat as me.
I thought everyone else had it all figured out, but I was wrong. I learned not to take things at face value, and not to make assumptions like that.
Finally, the most important lesson that I have learned is to take risks and try new things, otherwise you will never grow.
Nothing will change until you step out of your comfort zone. Do something you wouldn't do, because even though it may be scary at first, you will learn more about yourself.
In the end, my freshman year hasn't been what I expected, if anything it has been better than I could have hoped for. I've learned some great things, and I got some amazing memories from this year. I probably won't remember what my lectures were like, but years from now, I'll still remember the fun I had. I'll still remember staying up until 4 am to play Card Against Humanity with some amazing friends, and I'll still remember exploring Philadelphia, because those are the moments worth remembering.
So, for my fellow freshmen out there, I hope you've all had amazing years. And for my prospective freshmen, have fun and make the most of your first year of college!
