My first day of class in college, I was nervous. At a new school with new people and my heart was pounding just thinking about all the important things I would have to do. I felt like a small fish in a huge pond that contained millions of fish. The first lesson went quite well because people were walking around giving their names and smiling. I realized that I don't know these people and that means they don't know me either. With this thought, I made a list of things I had always wanted for myself but could never do in a small school where everyone knew me. I titled my list; change can be for the better. This first semester at Cowley has influenced me to live life naturally, rearrange my priorities when it comes to studying, and step out of my comfort zone. Being a student at Cowley influenced me to live life naturally. This was the first thing on my list of changes. To live a life naturally, I think it's important to simply go with the flow instead of trying to plan every little detail. I am a person who will try to plan every little detail of his life. If I could, I would have a set plan for every detail of my life for the rest of my life, but I'm realizing that's not how I should live life. Even though it's hard, I'm trying to go with the flow of life and enjoy it. I only plan concrete things like my work schedule, my school schedule, and even family plans. In addition to letting life happen naturally, I have tried to let go of “what if” thinking. I tend to do a homework assignment like an essay for a class and after turning it in, or even while I'm still working on it, I think oh what if I didn't do this or that right? I got myself together when I started doing it and reassured myself that I got everything... half the paper... when I'm doing it. So far I have managed to expand my comfort zone and I have also noticed that I now have more confidence in my everyday life. I'm proud of myself for my first semester at Cowley, I started living life naturally, reprioritizing myself when it comes to studying and getting out of my comfort zone. I never thought I had enough courage to change myself so much, looking back I'm happy I did. While I'm still working on perfecting these changes and making them look natural, they've also helped me in school and in my personal life. Epictetus said, “Only the educated are free.” I agree with this, to some extent you have to be willing to accept the change that comes with being educated. I believe education sets you free to a certain extent, but if you are not willing to accept or try to manage the changes that come with it, you are truly free?