As my first year as a college student comes to an end, I look back at how this experience has changed me. Since coming to college, I have become more independent and mature and I have learned to take initiative rather than sit there and wait for someone else to take care of it. This year has also been challenging both socially and academically, which I believe is a good thing. Being thrown into an unfamiliar place, expected to make friends and a home is a somewhat daunting task, but I can confidently say that I have done exactly that. Academically, college is certainly a step up from high school, and because of that I have had to, and still need to, change my studying habits in order to reflect that change. Overall, this past year has been a great experience for me and has caused me to learn and grow both socially and academically.