I personally grew this year by gaining more confidence in myself. Throughout my first few years of college, I struggled with finding my purpose and hid a bit behind others. However, this year I found my purpose and the career path I want to take after graduation. I also became more of a leader and took part in several organizations and clubs where I could express myself and help others. Another way I personally grew this year was by making time for myself and my mental well-being. It is easy to burn yourself out in college and fall under the pressure of obtaining good grades that we often forget to give our minds a break. I did not take care of my mental health as well within my first few years in college, but I realized it is very important to do so in order to stay calm and be less anxious. Therefore, my senior year I made sure my mental health was in check and put less pressure on myself which is what I needed to stay focused and healthy at the same time. I did this by watching a favorite tv show, listening to music, or talking to friends. It is important to do things you enjoy to keep yourself happy.
It is hard to go through college when you don't know where you fit in and what your purpose is. I was not completely sure that I wanted to become a dentist until my third year of college. I was not sure if I had what it takes to get good grades in upper science classes and other rigorous pre-requisites for dental school. I quickly got discouraged during my freshmen year because biology did not come easily to me. I thought that I was not as smart as the other students and that if I couldn't perform well in biology then I wouldn't be able to perform well in other upper science courses. However, over the years, and especially this year I have proved to myself that I can do anything I set my mind on. Physics was another class I dreaded taking so I saved it for my senior year. I can gladly say that I performed well in physics by studying efficiently and seeking help when needed. After one bad experience in biology, I challenged myself to believe in my work ethic and to do better in my other science classes. As a senior, I can say that I have done just that. It took time and dedication, but I redeemed myself and found what works for me. Everyone is different in how they study and don't let one hard class take your dreams away.
I still have a long way to go in achieving my dreams because I will be applying to dental school this summer and will have to go through four years of grad school to become a dentist. I know that I can be successful if I continue to work just as hard as I been doing through out my college years. I have an amazing support network consisting of my family and friends that I can go to for help and motivation. I have also found that asking for help does not make you weak but it makes you stronger. I will continue to take any help I can get in order to achieve my dreams and to continue the growth I have made thus far. Senior year is the year I truly found my purpose and felt more complete because of how far I have come from Freshmen year. One piece of advice I would like to give anyone reading this is that your weaknesses are what make you stronger.