The most important thing I have learned in my five years at Kent State is that life is not easy. Classes can be hard, teachers can be difficult and sometimes there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done. With that, though, I have learned that it is all worth it, especially once you start working toward something you love. If you don’t love what you are doing, get out now. Life is too short to live unhappily. I don’t mean that as advice to drop out of school. Do something you will truly love to do.

My mom wanted me to be an occupational therapist. Of course I love to make Mom happy (who doesn’t?). But I couldn’t do it at the price of making myself miserable. Now here I am, graduating with a degree in journalism. My mom is not too thrilled about the prospects of me not having a “secure” job, but she knows it is what I want to do. She supports me, and that is something else I have learned.

Everyone needs to surround themselves with positive people. Being around any other kind of people will only bring you down. My boyfriend Michael is my biggest supporter, and I love him for it. My parents have also been there for me through everything, even going to school to be a journalist. If it wasn’t for all of them, I do not know where I would be today.

I have also met a lot of great people I will never forget. With texting, e-mail, Twitter and Facebook, I know I will never lose contact with them, but I must admit I will miss seeing them every day. Being in college is the one place where everyone you are around understands exactly what you are going through. Why is that? Because they have all been there. When I am stressed because of a story deadline, I don’t have enough sources or someone won’t return my phone calls, my boyfriend (as much as I love him) just doesn’t understand. When I turn to a classmate, however, they know exactly how I feel, and they can talk me down off of the ledge.

College is worth it. All of it is worth it. So, all I can say is never give up. Follow your dreams, just make sure they are your own. And when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Elizabeth Laubscher is a senior magazine journalism major and guest columnist for the Daily Kent Stater.