As yet another chapter of my life comes to an end, I prepare myself for the flipped page ahead, intrigued to see where the story of life takes me next.

During my time in college, I have loved, lost, gained and failed but feel I have come out with a slightly better version of myself. Today, I share advice from the four years of my college experience. Take it or leave it.

Most importantly, find that person who brings out the best in you, who makes you happy and confident, because the most important thing you can invest in is yourself.

Who runs the world?

You.

Take the time to invest in the relationships around you, because those will last after college. Exams, assignments and schoolwork will soon be forgotten, but the friends and connections you make will continue with you afterward. Keep in mind that networking is extremely beneficial; it could get you that dream job.

Grades are important, but equipping yourself with real-world experience is what future employers are looking for. Experience allows you to apply what you have learned in the classroom to real-life work.

Experience not only looks great on a resume, it also allows you to feel out what a job in that field would be like. I am a reporter for The Daily Evergreen (obviously), but I also write for Ask Dr. Universe, a WSU science-education program for children.

I used to hate writing. I thought it was boring and I was awful at it. It wasn’t until I joined the Evergreen and took Roberta Kelly’s Science Writing course that I became passionate about writing science articles.

Now because of my experience, I think being a science writer is the coolest job ever. I get to talk to researchers about all sorts of cool science stuff and, better yet, I get to tell people about it.

College can swamp you with homework, studying and general stress. Do remember that others are just as busy and stressed as you, so be patient and kind, because you never know what kind of day someone may be having.

With that being said, take just a sliver out of your day to slow down, think about others and invest in those relationships. Call grandma and mom more often; they’ll appreciate it.

When classes and work are in full swing and you’re extremely stressed, take a moment to breathe. We get into a rhythm doing the same thing day in and day out, but there is no adventure or curiosity in that.

Observe your surroundings. Even small things like walking a new way to class or sitting in a different spot to study can make you more aware of what’s around in your daily life.

I say this because someone or something that could make you extremely happy may be right in front of you, just waiting for you to act upon the opportunity at hand. Don’t let that happiness slip through your hands like I almost did.