I'm not the traditional four-year college student. It has taken me seven long years, full of ups and downs, to make it to the finish line. Those seven years have taught me many things, though. Some were hard lessons, others were fun and easy... in the end those, the past seven years have helped shape me into the person I am. For that, I'm grateful, because I feel like I'm heading out in the world a better, more grown-up person.
Without further ado, here are a few of the lessons college has taught me:
- No matter how good you think you are, someone else is always better. This might seem a bit harsh, but it's honest. I went into many things in college with a cocky attitude, thinking I was pretty awesome. From playing the clarinet to writing, I have learned one thing: while I might be good at it, someone out there is always better.
At first, learning I wasn't the best at certain things was frustrating. Over the past seven years, though, I've learned that not being the best at everything is a good thing. Knowing that someone else is better and that you can do better is a good thing. It has kept me constantly working and striving to be better at everything I do. - You can't do it all on your own. There comes a time when trying to do everything on your own moves from a sign of strength to a sign of stupidity. It might be hard, but to get through life, it's crucial that you learn to accept help from others.
I have been through a lot of high and low points during my college career. Had it not been for the help of family, friends and professors, I wouldn't have made it to where I am now. Sometimes you really do have to let go and let others bear part of the load for you. - There is no shame in taking baby steps. I started my college career absolutely certain of what I wanted to do. Two years in, I found my self struggling with depression and uncertain of everything. I had to drop what I was doing and basically start over again.
While moving slowly was frustrating at times, I eventually learned the importance of taking baby steps and moving forward one day at a time. Some may look at me and make judgements about me taking seven years to make it through school, wondering how I could have gone so slowly. I know that taking baby steps throughout the last few years has been what's best for me. As my friend Julie once told me, "Don't be afraid of taking small steps. Only be afraid of standing still." - When you have no idea what's going on, God has a plan. After I left my first college, I really felt like I had lost myself. I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing from there. I ended up at SCC trying to find my way through college. While I was there, I discovered a love for writing and an interest for public relations.
Through a long series of events, I ended up at the college I had originally planned on going to. There, I discovered talents I didn't realize I had and rediscovered a passion for things I'd given up. God led me to a place even better than I had ever imagined.
