On my Instagram, my first photo from 4 years ago, is of me on campus with a nice soft smile. The caption reads, “Ready to start the journey.”

College was more than a journey. College was more than just a rollercoaster.

At times it felt like I was getting run over by a semi.

At times it felt like I being hugged by the world.

At times it felt like I just missed joining the Olympics by a few seconds.

At times it felt like I forgot how to breathe.

At times it felt like I won the lottery…twice in a row. 

I have done a lot of reflection the last few weeks. As I sell my furniture. As I finish my last class as an undergraduate. As I pack my suitcases.

Reflection always comes when life gets real…real quick. 

So, here I am. Staring at this photo. Trying to remember what was going on in that 18 year olds head. How am I different?

I like lists.

Here are 100 things college has shown me. 

1. Live your life. Not someone else’s life.
2. If you choose to follow #1 do it boldly.
3. Find mentors
4. Listen to your mentors
5. Be grateful
6. Call your family
7. Call your friends
8. Smile until your cheeks hurt
9. Kill the world with kindness
10. Vulnerability is scary, but so worth it
11. Foster friendships
12. Don’t be afraid of strangers
13. Don’t let fear hold you back
14. Purchase an umbrella
15. Be spontaneous
16. Follow your gut
17. Treat your gut well with healthy food
18. Exercise as much as you study
19. Don’t live in books
20. Be present
21. Find what you are good at
22. Listen to the world speak
23. Empathy, empathy, empathy
24. zeal, zeal, zeal
25. Haters gonna hate
26. No excuse is good enough
27. Action expresses priority
28. Prayer is active
29. Crying is okay
30. Emotions are okay
31. Frustration is okay
32. Call people by their name
33. Look people in the eye
34. Hug people
35. Sometimes just being is enough
36. Be creative
37. Sacrifice
38. Find a Church
39. Never miss a Sunday
40. Find a quiet place
41. Reflection, reflection, reflection
42. Find woke people
43. Fellowship with woke people
44. Wear the clothes you want to wear
45. Fall asleep in weird places
46. Life is fun if you make it fun
47. Life is boring if you make it boring
48. Tell people that you love them
49. Tell your crush that you like them
50. Embody courage
51. Patience isn’t something you learn right away
52. Your future is so bright you need shades
53. Serve the poor
54. Listen to the narratives of the underserved
55. Buy someone a coffee
56. Buy someone a gift randomly
57. Write a friend a letter
58. You may think no one understands you, we are all human
59. Because I am human, I have limits
60. Only God can give me peace
61. The world is dark, be a light
62. Be the salt of the earth
63. Don’t wear green shorts and a green shirt
64. Being silly is a good thing.
65. Laugh at failure/mistakes and move on
66. Some people come to your life for a reason
67. Other people need to leave your life for a reason
68. Be consistent
69. Don’t say you are if you haven’t shown it
70. Dance like everyone is watching and kill it
71. Humility, humility, humility
72. Take deep breaths
73. Make sure you have a towel on the rack before you jump in the shower.
74. Take cold showers to wake up.
75. Don’t be idle
76. Don’t live in your own head.
77. Heartbreaks heal in time
78. Don’t be jealous
79. Ask for help
80. Organize your desk
81. 4 years goes by like lightning
82. Stop the vanity
83. Run in the rain with your friends
84. Kiss someone like spiderman
85. Be someone’s superhero
86. Don’t buy what you don’t need
87. Don’t clutter your life, throw stuff away
88. Jesus Christ anchors
89. Get nice hats for bad hair days
90. Don’t feel obligated
91. Put down that cell phone
92. Pick up that Bible
93. Live away from home
94. Find your home
95. Take a random elective
96. Push yourself to always be better
97. Yes or No, don’t live a life of maybe
98. Take action
99. Read between the lines of textbooks

100. Nothing matters but loving God and the people He has made.