The first semester of college is a BIG firsts made up of several firsts- firsts weeks away from home, first college parties, first failed assignments, first adult responsibilities, first time meeting so many new people and trying so many new things- and it can be overwhelming and overwhelmingly fun all in one.

With all the hype surrounding everything freshman year brings, I expected to end the semester and feel as though my entire world changed. Surviving, and sometimes thriving, and coming home for the break, I realized that my world didn’t change because I went to college, but my perception of it did.

I learned that there is a reason behind literally everything. It is so easy to assume in our society, but we know what they say that does. No matter what we would like to think immediately, things are the way they are for a reason. People are the way they are for a reason. And until we know that reason, we have no room to think or assume anything.

I learned that it’s okay to let go. Certain places and people and things will and should always hold a special spot in your heart, but we were made to grow. If growing means letting go of some things you thought you never would- like when you clean out your closet to move to school, or when you discover that person and you no longer connect the way you used to, or when you fail that first test and realize there’s no more crying to do- it’s okay to let it go, and make room for some of the new.

I learned that home will always be home, but home is not a place, it’s a people. As much as I love being home in my big comfy bed with my puppies, I realize with every visit my parents made, and with some great new friendships I made, that people can feel like home just as much home does.

The first time the GPS told me Oxford was my home, I wanted to cry, not because I didn’t love it, but because it just wasn’t home. But after making so many great friends, going home didn’t feel like quite like home either, because I wanted them there too. And when my parents came to visit Oxford, it felt like home there. Home isn’t always about the literal place, but the people around you who make you feel loved, happy, and safe.

I learned that there will always be people who can’t wait to watch you fall, but there are some amazing people waiting to pick you up. Petty drama doesn’t completely end in high school unfortunately. I’m not sure it ever does. But in reality, no matter how many people want to celebrate your failures the world’s not out to get you, and, even if it’s only one or a few, God has someone set in place to be there for you, to help you, to cry and laugh and best of all celebrate with you.

I learned that stepping out of your comfort zone is memories waiting to be made. Majority of the things I have not wanted to go to or do out of some small fear or insecurity have turned out to be the best things for me. If you had told me a year ago I’d be writing one of these- talking to people about life, and more specifically my life from breakups to faith and all in between- I would have told you that you were crazy.

But just like the people I was so afraid to introduce myself too initially, and the rush process that terrified me, and the teacher who intimidated me, stepping out of my comfort zone in all cases turned out to be the best and most rewarding thing for me.

College can be a world of its own, but it doesn’t change your world or who you are, just the way you look it and think about who you want to be. I still don’t know exactly, but I know I’ll always be thankful for the things my first semester taught me.