You Go, Girl!

After reflecting on my own college experience and hopefully giving some sound advice on topics that have affected me the most, I am able to be confident in who I have become and who I am becoming. College is a time in life that will shape you into who you are for the rest of your life if you let it. I want to reflect on the topics I have covered and recap some of the information that I think is the most important.

I first touched on getting to know yourself. College is a time of self discovery because it is usually the first a young person lives on their own and is responsible for what they do and where they go. Because of that, it quickly becomes your home away from home. You live with friends and your life is determined by your choices. You no longer think of your parents house as home, because you spend less time there than in college. 

Once you are settled in to college with friends and classes, you get to be involved with boys and dating. It can be fun and even a good thing to date when you find someone that you really like, but it is also important to focus on your growth and your relationships with friends and community around you. Another important part of college which we can forget about is our education. We are ultimately in college to learn and to be highly educated. Although this is a huge part of our time, we cannot let it take a hold of us and our identity as people.

Having strong community and people around you in college is arguably the most important part of personal growth. Friendships teach you love, empathy, and kindness towards others and they are some of the most treasured parts of life. Friends are there for you in college when family can't be. Many struggles can happen while in college, whether it be mental health issues, relationship issues, etc. and it is vital to have support around you. 

While college can sometimes feel like its own world, students need to realize that their families still exist and that they need to stay in close contact with them. Family is the rock that will support you throughout your years and they deserve to be included in your world even when you grow up. As much as you need parents, you also need the everlasting love of God. Having a relationship with the Lord and a church community will benefit you in every way. 

Growing up can be confusing and difficult, but when you have a strong basis of who you are and the things you value, it is not so scary and can actually be a beautiful part of life. I am so glad that I was able to speak from my college experience and I encourage everyone to find joy and love in the unknown; it can be the best experience of your life!