Growing up in a small town definitely had its ups and downs. Knowing almost everyone in town could be a good or bad thing. Walking into a restaurant or a store, knowing you’ll most likely run into a family friend, was always an issue when you didn’t want to look presentable. Feeling like every friend you had you don’t even remember meeting because you were so young and had known each other forever. No new faces walking into class, only the familiar ones. The lack of places to hang out with your friends was so bad, you had to resort to hanging out in the cookout parking lot. Although I wouldn’t change where I grew up, I do feel a sense to move on from it. Freshman year taught me a lot, and my small town isn't same since I left. I feel a sense of home there, but I’ve just outgrown it.
1. Friends
That’s why, when I came to college, I was so thrilled to finally branch out and meet new people and make friends on my own for a change. As I’m coming to the end of my freshman year, I’ve seen what true friends are like: caring people who truly only want the best for you. It's quality you want, instead of quantity, when it comes to friends. Friends who share the best and worst times with you, whether that be getting trapped in a steam plant and having to escape under a gate, going football games, dancing to “September” at the bar or spending late nights watching The Food Network. Each of those nights are special to me. These friends I have made freshman year are not just those friends you see seven days a week and deal with because there is no one else. They aren't petty and in constant competition with you. They truly accept you, and you accept them. They have been my key to my happiness in college.
2. Failure
I never really understood that failure was fundamental to success. I’ve had to make many mistakes and learn from them to be where I am today. I was always scared of failing back home because word traveled so fast. I lived most of my life walking on eggshells, trying to please people and not mess up. That’s not the way to live; living for yourself makes you so much happier. I struggled with my major the first semester and learned that I wasn’t meant to be a biology major, and that it’s OK. I am much more intrigued and interested by my new major. I’ve learned that if you want something really bad, you actually have to work at it, not just doing the minimum then having connections to get you through, and that failure happens.
3. Opportunity
There is such a big world out there, and college is only a part of it. There are so many limited opportunities in small towns. Coming to college has given me more opportunities to thrive and grow as a person. I’ve gained more confidence and learned that the opinions of people in my town shouldn’t matter to my success and me. I’ve had an opportunity to better my leadership skills and gain fundamentals to succeed in the real world.
4. Letting go
Most of all, freshman year has taught me to let go. Whether that be letting go of the negative people in life, an ex-boyfriend, ideas or even my small town. You’re not always going to be around the same people your whole life, and you have to accept that. You encounter many different kinds of people every day in college, and every person you meet is unique. I feel as if I’ve been taught how to accept others where my high school at home tended to be more of a “comfort zone” for me. I always felt as if I was stuck in a rut throughout my childhood. Growing up, I even despised change because I was never used to do it. I’ve now learned to accept it and let go of my fear of change and it's helped me grow. I’ve become a better more understanding version of myself, and I can't wait to learn more.
