We all know being in college is a good thing and a bad thing.

It is good because we are privileged enough to continue our education, but we are also dealing with some stressful situations at this point in our lives.

We have up to five different classes, jobs and extracurricular activities.

When we are consumed with so much on a daily basis, it is mandatory that we form connections that are going to be positive and uplifting.

It is also important that we have a network of support that encourages us to be the best we can possibly be and to hold ourselves to the highest standards.

Before I became an official Eastern student, I had the opportunity to meet Nick Sanders through the Access Granted program.

Through that program I met many people who not only encouraged me to be the best student I can be, but to be the best person I could be and to reach my full potential.

During my first semester of school, Nick was one of the people who checked in on me constantly, he motivated me to excel in my studies.

It wasn’t until my second semester that I became comfortable being in college, and I started to branch out to more people.

Of course, I met some good and bad people; however, when you communicate with negativity and when you are around negativity, it dominates your life in a bad way.

Because of negative vibes and unhealthy relationships, you are not able to do everything you can and it begins to weigh you down.

I began to form good friendships and get to know many upperclassmen; these people had the same goals that I had, and they had the same mindset as me.

I was able to receive motivation from them and they received the same from me.

Often, we are so afraid to open up to people, that we miss out on meeting people who could have a huge impact in our lives.

As students, we have to become more comfortable with each other and reach out to each other more than what we are used to doing. I say this because we all need someone to confide in and to talk to.

We go through so much during the time we are in college, holding in emotions and feelings is very unhealthy and it can cause mental disruptions.

Before I formed relationships with people, I was struggling with an issue that I was not able to openly talk about.

I was not comfortable to share my issue, nor did I trust anybody with what I was feeling.

When I found a person who I could trust, I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

I began to do better academically and socially. I feel as though I was able to restart my college life.

I became involved with organizations, and I began doing community service, which I never did during my freshman year.

Having healthy relationships can help and change you in more ways than you might know.

We can be so guarded at times, but not everybody is out to get us.

Having a healthy relationship could change many things about us and we can also help and contribute changes to others.