Arriving for your first day of campus is a thrilling experience for most Campus Divas and my first day was certainly no different.

I remember being so excited to decorate my dorm room, join clubs, make friends and experience everything that college had to offer. It didn’t even cross my mind to make sure I had period care with me because your period can’t happen on your first day of college – and certainly not to me!

It wasn’t until the cramps hit me that I realized I was in for an unpleasant surprise.

My parents were helping me unload my things from our packed-to-the-brim minivan and as I grabbed my new lamp (covered in gold polka dots – so cute!) I felt like someone had socked me in the side. My first thought was, “That can’t be my period. It can’t be.” But alas, it could be. And it was.

In my head, I knew it shouldn’t be a big deal and I knew I’d be fine. But still I felt my heart was sinking. I didn’t want to be missing out because of my period and I certainly didn’t want to be hugging my hot water bottle while all of my potential friends were out having fun. It wasn’t what I had imagined for my first week away from home and I felt like I had been robbed of the opportunity to make a good first impression.

I realize now that I was being a touch dramatic and that of course everything would be fine, but either way I felt deflated. My gold polka-dotted lamp seemed less cute. I began to feel unsure about joining clubs or talking to new people. I just wanted to go home and try again next week.

As I was setting up my dorm room (my roommate had not yet arrived) I realized something. There comes a time in every Diva’s life where they have to choose to rise above their period. Periods happen and they happen often and that should be no reason for me not to enjoy my first week on campus, no matter how crummy I felt.

I am embarrassed that it took me so long to come to that realization and as a self-proclaimed Campus Diva, I was a little disappointed in myself that I had met my period with such dread. But in that moment, I decided I would not let my period stop me from enjoying every last second of this exciting time in my life. I wasn’t going to let my period stop me from cherishing this time with my parents before they drove off and I wasn’t going to let my period deter me from trying new things.

It was like a light had been lit in my heart. I felt that familiar feeling of excitement and anxiousness return and my polka dot lamp looked as perfect as I remembered it.

My advice to past, present and future Divas is to never let your period keep you from doing the things you love or from trying new things. After all, life goes on. Period.

Share your stories about how life doesn’t stop because of your period with us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #LifeGoesOnPeriod!