After a successful first year of college, making amazing friends and interning at a fantastic company over the summer, I thought I had it all together. I was positive I knew who I was, what my goals were and how to reach them. Almost too positive.

But a good friend of mine once told me, “When you think you know yourself the most, that is when you know yourself the least.” Boy, was he right. And while it took me almost an entire semester to learn that -- a semester of highs and a number of lows -- I’m grateful for my “sophomore slump.” It altered the perspective I had not only of myself but my college experience as a whole. Here’s what I learned.

1. Stressing about your future is unnecessary and sometimes self-destructive.
Instead of spending excessive amounts of time frantically pondering over your future job in three years, take a step back. Of course any student should be thinking ahead, but when thinking ahead becomes more exhausting than exciting, causing you to lose sight of the now, give it a rest. I learned this year that planning every detail of your life, especially in terms of your career, only leads to mental self- destruction and unnecessary breakdowns that bring you not one step forward but seven steps back.

Let’s face it, plans change, circumstances changes and things go wrong. Learn to take situations how they are and work with them. Worry more about your upcoming exam and look forward to grabbing dinner later with your friends. When you find peace in your present, you will be more comfortable thinking about the future.

2. Your degree isn’t everything.
Do not view your college experience as a means to an end. You are where you are not to merely attend class and earn a degree in some field you think will land you a job. You are here to learn, to grow and to better yourself through the ups and downs of university life. Take chances, become acquainted with new people on campus, join a club, invite the quiet girl in your class to lunch, enroll in a unique elective and become an individual who brings out the best in those around you.

3. Sometimes you have to change your ways.
The academic rigor placed upon students in sophomore year courses undoubtedly increases in comparison to freshmen classes. Just like your habits in high school didn’t work for studying and writing papers your first year, it might very well be the same way when transitioning to sophomore year and the grades to come. Maybe you realized you’re someone who only thrives when enrolled in morning courses, maybe you need time gaps between classes or maybe flash cards aren’t your best study tool. Maybe staying up late to finish assignments isn’t your most efficient method. Do not be afraid to approach your studies in new ways.

However, the notion of “changing your ways” can be applied to just about anything. Maybe you’re not handling fights with your friends in the best manner, maybe you’re too afraid to branch out socially or maybe you’re quick to judge. Changing your ways also means bettering yourself.

4. Not everyone you meet is who you think they are.
You’ll find that your friends from freshman year might not be your friends for life. And quite frankly, not everyone you meet sophomore year will be either. But that’s OK. Enjoy being around those who make you happy now. Do not let yourself become so caught up in making every single person in your life your best friend or having a huge crowd to sit with in the cafeteria at dinner.

5. Finding the good in everything.
From managing your course load, handling friendships, juggling extracurricular activities to romantic relationships, college can absolutely be a lot to handle. I think many can agree that with so much to handle, sometimes it’s easy for situations to go awry. For me, a majority of my fall semester felt that way.

However, I became a much more accepting, resilient and understanding individual when I stopped viewing every single bad occurrence or encounter as the end of the world. I saw many of them as learning experiences. I stopped carrying around negative thoughts and viewing situations so narrowly. When things don't go your way, make sure to take a glance at the "big picture," the grand scheme of things.

6. Balance and separating yourself is key.
Take it from me, spending every waking second in the library or rushing from meeting to meeting is a sure-fire way to lead you down the path of insanity. It is unbelievably important to reward yourself with some down time, whether that means taking a cat-nap, reading or grabbing coffee with a friend. Make a concerted effort to set aside time to separate yourself from the craziness of academics and responsibilities. Hanging out with friends is much more fun when you don’t have a voice in your head bugging you to keep hustling and keep working.

And a reminder, these tips aren't just for sophomores. I know I'll be keeping these six points in mind for the rest of my college career!