When going away to college, it’s typical to hear about how you finally become an adult because you’re doing your own laundry and cleaning your room. What they don’t tell you is how much you actually grow throughout those 4 years. You learn independence, how to put yourself out there, and most of all who you truly are as a person.
When I came to college, I was ready to party and run around the dorms acting like it was a giant sleepover. I never really expected that I would also grow into the person I am today. Sometimes I still think of myself as a kid because I am only 20 years old, but I also look at myself and am so proud of all that I’ve done here so far. I have met so many people who have helped shape me into a better and more understanding person. I have also learned so many valuable lessons from those around me.
When you get to college, they stop treating you like a clueless teenager that has no idea how the world works. Instead, they teach you the value that you give to the world and why it’s important that you leave your impact. Yes, maybe I have to sit through a 3 hour lecture that makes me want to pull my hair out, but I also learned that I can be patient and I can do hard things.
Recently, I was chosen for not one, but two exciting opportunities in the Greek Life community. I was chosen to be in a video to help represent the FSL community and to co-host the winter FSL awards. These opportunities didn’t just fall into my lap, and freshman year me would have not have even been considered, but learning to overcome the fears of public speaking and branching out helped me grow into a woman that these advisors wanted to help represent and lead their community.
In high school, I was always very shy and masked the fear of embarrassment and being judged under a facade of super fake confidence. After taking classes and joining clubs, I have faced those fears and realized that being myself is more than enough. Growing up doesn’t only mean getting older or taller or changing your look, but it’s the self fulfillment you get when you look back on all that you’ve accomplished and appreciate everything you’ve learned. It’s realizing how those experiences have turned you into the person you are now, and how you can use them to build yourself a better future.
College is truly a space to learn and to grow, and it shows you what life is truly about. It’s taking those opportunities and making the most of them and discovering how your impact on them can make a difference.
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