I always heard that college changes you, but sometimes it is difficult to decide if it will be a good change or not. Even though it is hard to identify and label a change in yourself, I know there are many lessons I have already learned that will define me as a person and have changed me for the better.
The first lesson I have learned is that sometimes all you can give is your best. College is really hard, not just the classes, but also maintaining friendships and relationships. You cannot keep putting immeasurable amounts of pressure on yourself when you can’t give any more than you already are. If math is not your strong suit, beating yourself up over it is not going to help. If someone wants nothing to do with you, pushing yourself to be someone you’re not is not going to fix the situation. Sometimes all you can give is your best, and that needs to be enough for you.
The second lesson I have learned is that not everyone is worth being in your life. If there is an identifiable problem with your friendships, disregarding it and moving on for the sake of them remaining in your life because you are too scared to lose someone is just going to end up hurting you over and over again. You cannot let everyone walk all over you. Remaining in friendships for the sake of just saying so is going to end in flames. The term “cutting off” is toxic and overused, but sometimes removing yourself from a friendship that continues to disregard your feelings is the plan of action that needs to be undertaken.
Lastly, I have learned that whatever is meant to be will be. There is no point worrying about the future when there is nothing you can do to change it. We must trust in God’s plan in life for us and understand that, yes we make decisions, but in the long run, life is going to take us where we are meant to end up. Whatever will be will be, and we must trust that it is what is destined for us.
My college experience so far has been far from normal because of the pandemic, but I would not trade these valuable lessons or the person I have grown into for the world.