The Learning Curve

My years in college have been some of the best of my (relatively short) life. Now that I am here I feel like everything else was just building up to this really incredible time.  Even though I still have two years to go, I have learned so many things here that I am thankful for!

Find what you are truly passionate about and pursue it

College is a great time of trial and error. Testing out new clubs, experiences, activities and hobbies. There is no time like the present to find your passions, because sooner than later you will be thrust very quickly into the real world.  If you leave college knowing what you love and are good at, it'll be that much easier to figure out what you want to do with your life.

Find good friends.

My college experience would've been extremely different had I not been with the friends I am with now.  Much of high school ended up being difficult largely because I did not end up with good people to spend my time with.  I learned from this, and when I got to college I decided to seek out the people I knew that exuded happiness, love, and most of all followed God.  These people are some of my best friends and I know that they will be for a long time. On a similar note...

Friendships come and go, which is perfectly okay.

Unlike what we assumed in elementary, not every friend you meet will be one that sticks with you forever. God may bring people into your life for a reason, and he may lead them out for another. I have had quite a few of these friends, and while we may no longer talk or see each other, I know that God brought them into my life for a reason.  People change and relationships change; this is a fact of life. It is okay to let some people go and invite new ones in.

Take responsibility.

Going to college means embracing a lot more responsibility then you did when at home.  You buy your own groceries, make your own food, do your laundry, work a job, etc.  Our parents aren't here to help us with any of this. Being on your own is awesome and freeing, but you do have to take responsibility for your actions and life.

Persevere.  

This is definitely one I have learned quite a few times.  Whether it be continually pestering people to find a job, going in to see a counselor over and over while changing majors, or studying nonstop to pass a class, perseverance is a big thing I have figured out.  My parents always told me "the squeaky wheel gets the grease," so I guess they trained me well for this one. :)

No matter what, stay true to who you are.

All throughout high school I was slightly insecure. I wasn't sure who I was or where I fit in, so I would act differently around different people simply so I could feel accepted. The problem was that this never made me feel any better about myself.  It just made me feel worse because all of these people saw different sides of me.

That is partly why college has been so amazing for me.  I came here and had a completely fresh start where I was able to find the friends I really wanted and be myself around them because I knew they accepted me completely.  I now and perfectly comfortable being myself around everyone because I have friends, family, and a God that love me for me.  I've learned that I am so much happier being myself and sticking to my beliefs and values.

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These are just a few of the things I have figured out in the past few years.  Since coming to college I have learned so much about myself and about the world around me, and I know that I have a lot more learning ahead of me. I have made incredible memories, met amazing people, accomplished some really cool things, and I can't wait to see what comes next!

Weekly Update

photo credit: ginnerobot via photopin cc

It is finals week.

I am currently writing this in between cram sessions for my next test and binge sessions from my cupboard.

My mind is stuck in an endless cycle: sleep, eat, work, study, sleep, eat, work, study.......it goes on and on, with tests splattered haphazardly in between.  In this week, the hands down craziest time of the quarter, it is hard to think about much else.  Its hard to get your mind off the next thing on your five page to-do list, or how late you have to stay up in order to shove all of the endless information into your tired brain.

Its weird to think that people, myself included, can make it through this whole week without truly enjoying it.  We spend a whole five days (at least) studying, eating, studying some more, and occasionally sleeping.

We are spending all of our time concentrating on these tests that simply end up as a number on a sheet of paper.  A number that, in no way shape or form, defines us.  We were not created to ace a class, or get an A on a paper. And yet, we have grown up our whole lives in an education system that teaches us that we will only be truly worthy if we get good grades in high school, go to a good college, and graduate with a good GPA.

While this does kind of suck, obviously we will always have some level of concern with our grade on the finals.

Wouldn't it be nice  if we could just let the stress and anxieties of finals week go? We could forget about the pressure behind the exams and, while still studying for them, take time to enjoy the beauty of this world we live in.

In practice of this idea, I present to you some things to do to relieve a little bit of stress and enjoy this beautiful week.  Whether you are studying for finals or not, use these little tidbits to brighten up your day and bring some joy into your life!

 photo credit: jenny downing via photopin cc 

Listen to music!

Particularly, this playlist. Every song on it is worthy of blasting. If you want to be extra daring, dance around the room to it.

If you're feeling a little more mellow, put on Josh Garrel's Pandora station and I promise you'll be a happy camper.

photo credit: Jason A. Samfield via photopin cc

Go sit on a patch of grass and read a book.  Do it.  You can't not enjoy life while doing this.

 photo credit: John Wiseman via photopin cc

Do some simple yoga moves.  Practice your breathing, curl up in child's pose for a little bit, rest in downward dog to get your blood flowing to your brain.  These things will calm you down and relieve some of the built up stress.

photo credit: Funky64 (www.lucarossato.com) via photopin cc

When in doubt, watch a funny TV show or your favorite childhood movie.  Sometimes you just need something that doesn't require much thought after you've been studying for hours on end.  The movie Frozen should do the trick :)


Hopefully you can do some of these things throughout your week to relieve some of the stress and just take a breather.  Just remember, your success in school doesn't define you!

xoxo
Melissa

photo credit: ginnerobot via photopin cc