As a new wave of college freshman swarm the overflowed parking structures, lecture halls, and counselor appointments, an awareness of continued abeyance makes a home in the second year community college attendees. In most cases, this is your second year in limbo. This is the second year you have waved goodbye to your university friends and settled back into the bed you’ve slept in since kindergarten. This is the second year you’ve driven through the same streets, went to the same familiar restaurants or gas stations, and continued through the motions of the same life you’ve lived for 19 years. We are forced to push down the eagerness for travel and new experiences, and accept that we have at least a year or more of the same stale life, indefinitely hung in suspension.
That prompts the question, what is the cure? What is the cure for boredom? What is the cure for losing sight of your goals? How do I avoid falling victim to near-sightedness? There is not a definite answer or twelve step program, but there are things for you to keep in mind during this transitional period in your life.
The first is to constantly remind yourself that this is transitional. This period in your life is a chance for you to continue to grow within yourself. The universe is giving you an opportunity to say goodbye to your hometown and even sink in one last lesson. Think of this lesson as a prerequisite; a crucial learning experience required for you to move out and on.
The second thing to keep in mind is a clear vision of your goals, long and short term. Always remind yourself of what or where you are working towards. You may be working two jobs, taking 17.25 units and still looking for a volunteer job in your spare time, but those are the steps you may need to take to build your path. Short term goals can break the comatose, and help you accomplish more in the short time you have left. Stay strong and stay inspired.
Finally, as much as you need to invest in your resume, you need to steep love and energy into yourself. Take breaks from the chaos and ground yourself by doing things that you are passionate about. Doesn’t this go without saying? It should. Most of the time we are so consumed with the basics of survival, we forget about feeding our creativity, our passion, and our soul. Take your thoughts away from the situation and follow the tugging warmth in your heart.
You have a ticking clock on your current situation. As much as we prefer to dwell on the future engagements and wish the time away, take advantage of the time advancing before us. Time is unforgiving. Time doesn’t stop for any woman, man, or child. Use the gift of now so you can look back on this transitional period of time as one of the best soul expansion experiences.
