When you're preparing to move away from home and off to college for the first time, you never know what to expect:

What are the classes going to be like?

Will I like my professors?

Am I going to be that person that goes to every class, or will I skip once or twice a week?

What about the Freshman 15?!

These are all valuable things to think about, but what about the people? Have you ever given that any thought? I'm sure you're scared to leave your hometown behind, but college is like a continual surprise. Everyday is a new adventure and everyday you learn something new, and sometimes that something new is a person. That's the great thing about college, you never know who you're going to meet or when you're going to meet, and you especially don't know the kind of impact they'll leave you with.

Sometimes, it may just be at a random encounter at a party. Maybe you tripped in your heels and there was someone there to catch you and for the rest of the night you danced, laughed, and sang at the top of your lungs. Maybe you couldn't find anywhere to sit in the library, so you asked that guy at the four-chaired table if you could take a seat, and instead of you doing your work and listening to your own music, he pulled his earbuds out and engaged in conversation. In both scenarios, these people could just be fly-by-night-friends, or they could become life long BFFs. That's just the beautiful thing about college! You just never know what's going to happen!

College is like that in general. It's something that always has you guessing and never really knowing what's going to happen next, and that can be stressful. However, this is the one aspect that isn't. I found that meeting new people in college was SO much easier than meeting new people in high school. Is it because they didn't spend 12 years of your life with you and know nothing about you?

Maybe, but it could also be because you're growing up and realizing "Hey, maybe it's time to finally just be myself." It's amazing the friendships you can build and keep by just being yourself. Not only do you meet people that are just like you and have a lot in common with you, but you also enjoy people who don't have a lot of things in common with you, but you enjoy their company. Sometimes, that unknowing of who you're going to meet brings you to some of the people who you will call friends for life.

I want to tell you a story of how my first year of college went for me.

I'm a very shy person and have always had a hard time making friends. I decided I need to try and immerse myself as much as possible, especially in my singing group. For the first 3 months, the only person I had was my roommate.

Then, that magical college friend magic happened. The connections came and I grew close to a group that went from people I had to know, to friends, to best friends, to family. I've met people at parties and we exchanged numbers and Snapchat names and we may not talk in person, but we at least have a Snap Streak. It's those brief encounters that can also bring you to love, which is what happened one February night when I unknowingly shook hands and introduced myself to my future boyfriend.

This is why I think college is so amazing and that's why I miss it so much. If there's one thing I love being confidently uncertain about, it's the people I meet. So, don't hesitate to say hi to someone in line behind you at the cafe or even just in passing, you never know what they might mean to you in the future.

(side note, these are the most important people I've met in college. Results of uncertainty, and that is awesome.)