I am currently writing this mere days away from the completion of my sophomore year of college; oddly enough, this happens to line up perfectly with my twenty-first birthday. (Time to celebrate, am I right?) I am incredibly appreciative of this time of year, because it usually marks the end of one era, while also being the beginning of a new year of my life. With this in mind, I am constantly reflecting, recognizing my past experiences, and also planning for what I'd like to see come of my life in the future ahead. A lot can happen in a year, and within our college years, I think that rings especially true.

On a day-to-day basis, it can certainly feel as though we aren't accomplishing anything incredibly extraordinary. Classes and work and other responsibilities fill our schedules to the brim, and frankly, the days just kind of blend together as a result of repetition. Living in this day by day mindset without looking at a bigger picture can create a feeling of being stationary, without a forward progression; this is something that I absolutely struggle with.

In regard to my studies at University, I can see immense amounts of progress and achievement. By the end of each semester, I find it immensely rewarding to look back and realize the difference in the knowledge I possessed from the beginning to its conclusion. Education is a remarkable experience that some individuals don't have access to, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be in school currently, studying the things that I am passionate about.

Outside of the classroom, I am proud to look back at all of the work I've done to build my experience in the fields I am interested in working in after graduating; many other students undoubtedly have similar reflections upon their clubs, groups, and internships that they've participated in over the course of this school year. This work deserves to be recognized just as much as our grades and experiences from classes. Every little effort and action we assert drives us forward to the future we hope to achieve.

Finally, looking back across all that's occurred in the last year, I think the most important growth to be recognized is within myself and personal health. Life is constantly challenging us with decisions to be made and new roads to take us to places of discomfort. Upon recognizing what is best for us in our journey to where we want to see ourselves years from now, the actions we take determine who we are living for. It can be easy to live our lives in accordance with what others expect from us or what we think society expects from us; however, once you decide to live for what you want, that is when you will start treating yourself with the love and respect you deserve.

I am incredibly proud to be halfway done with my undergraduate experience, and I am continuously looking forward to the moments of reflection in the future where I can appreciate what all of my hard work has done for me. I hope you can feel the same.