Four years ago, I hugged, kissed and waved goodbye to my parents as they dropped me and all of my stuff off at a place far away. There were tears in their eyes, and as I walked away, I knew the adventure of my life was only just beginning.

Over the next four years I would go through several phases of growth. I was a bubbly freshman, a workaholic sophomore, a questioning junior and finally an enlightened senior. What hasn’t changed is my passion and enthusiasm to excel, which has always pushed me forward. This university has encompassed nearly my entire life these few years through my classes, my dorm, my food, my work, my hangout, etc. 

I have made a lot of good decisions and a few bad ones. I made a lot of friends and lost a few. But as I look back on the time, I can say with confidence that I am proud of the person I have become. 

As I prepare to graduate in a few short days, I want to give what bits of encouragement and wisdom I can to those still pushing through. No one ever said it would be easy, but that it would be worth it. No matter which route you decide to take, I can assure you there will be a multitude of obstacles, long nights, too-soon deadlines and comfort eating. What I have found to be most important is to experience life as much as possible and to always be learning. 

People say life gets better when you stop caring what other people think, and I can say from experience that it most definitely does. As long as you’re honest and respectful of others, the world is out there for you to experience and enjoy. Figure out what brings you genuine satisfaction, and don’t get bogged down in the details. It’s really that simple.

Take advantage of your classes, professors and the endless number of services provided by the university. Just read through the list of “additional fees” in your LEOnet account if you don’t believe me.

Keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to try new things but always follow your gut instincts. 

If my obnoxious string of clichés has lost you, just remember this: never settle. Never willingly accept the negative things in your life that you have the power to change. 

Over the last year, I decided that experiencing foreign cultures was a necessity in my life. Instead of focusing on my lack of money or understanding of other societies, I found a way. I’m thrilled to tell you I was just accepted by the Spanish Embassy to teach English in their schools this fall. 

I had a will and found a way. I wish you all good luck as you create your own amazing college experience.