staring at my phone and comparing my life to other people’s. I constantly saw other people going out and having fun with their friends while I was alone in my dorm. I should have put my phone down more often. It is important to remember that social media is just a highlight reel of people’s lives, not reality. As a senior, I have become much better at not comparing myself to others, which is liberating.

Many times, my friends were going out to lunch, going for a hike, or doing other fun things, and I said no to going because I was so worried about school. I wish I had realized that making friends and spending time with people is just as important as getting good grades. It’s also important for your mental health to hang out with friends and enjoy yourself instead of being singularly focused on academics.

I regret not making friends in every class. Some of my classes were so difficult that I felt I had no one to turn to. I felt alone whenever I did not understand an assignment or had a question. A piece of advice for my younger self is on the first day of every class, introduce yourself to someone and get their contact information.

After my freshman year, I started to do this, but I should have done this sooner because it would have been a huge help to have someone to study with within some of my most challenging classes.

During my first two years of college, I worried about what others thought of me. That held me back because I sometimes would just stay quiet rather than speak my mind. I would have been much happier if I had just been my genuine, authentic self from day one.

I spent a lot of my college experience being stressed about the future. I always felt pressured to find the perfect internship or job. I should have enjoyed living in the moment more often. Finding a job is important, but stressing over it constantly is not helpful.

Almost every college student has a roommate that doesn’t end up being a good match at some point or another. I regret not being more thoughtful about who I lived with. I wish I had been more mindful of who I signed a lease with and made sure that our living styles were compatible — such as what time the other person wakes up and goes to bed, if they like having people over, if they are clean or messy, and if they are loud or quiet.

I regret beating myself up over small things. I wish I had realized that college is a time to learn and grow as a person. I think I entered college thinking everything had to be perfect. I would often let small things ruin my whole day. I have learned not to let little things get to me and that it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them.

While I have regrets, they do not detract from the fact that I’ve had some of the best memories of my life in the past four years. I know I have grown and broadened my horizons, and I’m excited for what the future holds. College is a unique experience for everyone. My final piece of advice is to enjoy each day because it goes by very fast!

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