Heading in to my freshman year of college, I had a pretty good idea of who I was and who I wanted to become. Little did I know that I would soon discover more about myself than I could ever imagine, with the help of my best friends, my newfound independence and all the bumps in the road that God would throw my way.

I learned that there are going to be people who come and go in to and out of my life, and they are put there for a reason. These people were placed in my life to teach me a lesson, whether the lesson is known at that time, or it is a part of a bigger plan. It is not worth wasting time and energy on wishing for things to happen, because if it is meant to be, then everything will fall in to place.

I learned that it's OK to cry sometimes. Whether it be over a bad exam grade or over a compilation of the cutest cat videos ever, it's OK to let it all out. Bottling up emotions can lead to stress, which is one thing that every college student would gladly accept less of.

I learned that the greatest moments are often unplanned. The impromptu trips to Dairy Queen with my best friends and failed plans that turn in to a girls' night are part of what makes college so special. Life is unpredictable, which is why these moments that we never saw coming have the potential to turn in to the best memories of all.

I learned the importance of communication, whether it be communicating with my friends, family, or anyone else to whom I would come in contact with. Some issues that could arise due to misinterpretation of text messages or email could easily be resolved in five-minutes of face-to-face communication. Have a problem? Talk it out face-to-face; body language and tone of voice are very, very important.

Finally, I learned to be who I want to be, and to not let anyone stop me from doing so. Going away to college gives everyone a new start, a clean state that is just waiting to be filled with whatever we choose. I had the chance to reinvent myself, and to escape my love/hate relationship with the embarrassing stories and crazy nicknames that went along with my high school years. The new people in your life only know you as you are right now, so make that you the best you that you've ever been.

All in all, freshman year is a learning experience much bigger than what I got out of hours of classes, labs, and lectures. The amount I learned about myself in these last nine-months rivals what I have learned in all my time on Earth so far. Don't fear the change, embrace it, for each change, large or small, is one step closer of who you are meant to be.