The 12th week in of a new and exciting chapter of my life has started, and I have finally settled into my new lifestyle. Even though I miss my old friends who I have known the entirety of my life, the people I have met through college are some of the most amazing people I have ever encountered. My new friends support me, struggle with me, cry with me, and laugh with me. We spend hours upon hours doing our homework together and when we aren’t doing our homework, we find the time to share and create new and exciting memories together. This isn’t just a sappy post about the friends I have made, they have actually changed who I am as a person and have helped me thrive and grow in college. I remember being so nervous to leave all the people I loved and relied on before and that I was scared I wouldn’t find genuine people, but through STEM scholars and all of our other activities together, I have truly created so many new bonds that I know will last for the rest of my life. They push me outside of my comfort zone and even if I get tired of homework or studying, they encourage me to keeping doing my work and this concept makes me a much better student than I ever was before. Through them I have learned patience, determination, and that I have the ability to achieve whatever dreams and goals that I set for myself in the future and in the present.