Hi guys, it’s Riley, and welcome back to the blog! I can’t believe it is already March!! This year is flying by!
I feel like people always say college changes you, but I don’t think it changed me into someone new. If anything, it made me more me.
Before college, I think I was still trying to figure out who I was supposed to be. I cared a lot about doing things the “right” way and having everything make sense. But over time, I stopped trying to fit into what I thought my life should look like and started trusting what felt right for me. That’s probably the biggest change, I feel way more sure of myself now and confident.
I’ve also become a lot more independent and mature, but not in a forced way. It just kind of happened through everything I’ve gone through. Balancing school, responsibilities, and just life in general especially while dealing with challenges like my learning disability, pushed me to grow up in ways I didn’t expect. There were definitely moments where I felt overwhelmed or unsure of myself, but getting through those moments made me stronger.
I don’t rely on other people’s opinions as much as I used to. I trust my own decisions more, and I’ve learned that I don’t need to have everything perfectly figured out to move forward. I can handle things as they come.
Another thing I’ve realized is that everything really does happen for a reason. Even the stressful moments, the times I doubted myself, or things didn’t go how I planned they all shaped me into who I am right now. Looking back, I wouldn’t change those experiences because they helped me grow into a more confident and grounded version of myself. And have the best support system in the whole world.
I think I’ve also redefined what success means to me. It’s not about having a perfect plan or everything lined up right after graduation. It’s about knowing who I am, trusting myself, and feeling ready to take on whatever comes next.
I’m not a completely different person than I was before college but I am more confident, more independent, and more comfortable in who I am.
And honestly, that’s the best kind of change.
See you in a month!
-Riley
