Today, in about half an hour, I am registering for my classes for my sophomore year of college. In 3 weeks and 3 days, I will be completely done with my first year of college.
What?
Since August, my life has change tremendously. The past few months have been full of class, work, friends, laughs, tears, Cookout, and have been extremely lacking of sleep. I have met some people who will forever be a part of my life, even if not extremely actively, and I have met plenty of people that will just be here for a short while. I have discovered my passions, but have yet to figure out how to incorporate them into a career. I have excelled in classes, and I have passed a couple solely by the grace of God.
When people tell you that time flies when you're having fun, they're absolutely right. However, they never tell you that time flies by even when you're stressed and sleep deprived. Yes, while you are stressed and sleep deprived, it seems to take forever to pass - but once it has passed, you look back and wonder where it went.
Here are some ideas that I have to try to get as much out of the time that you have at college/university:
Your college career, no matter how fast it flies by, can hold so many opportunities and memories - please don't let them go by. Your classes are important. Your grades are important. Work hard. But please, don't forget to live while you do so. If you study and work, and you do your best, just hand the rest over to God. It will work out. You can't pray and not work, but you also can't take all matters in to your own hands and not give your stresses to God.
Also, calm down with the pictures. Yes, memories only last so long and are only so accurate, and pictures are a great thing. But so often we get so caught up in getting the perfect picture, and even getting stressed about it, instead of just sitting the phone down and being in the moment. No, you won't remember what the sunset looked like 40 years from now, but how much is a picture worth if all you remember about the day is trying to get it? Think about this - would you rather have pictures of sunsets, oceans, lakes, overlooks, etc. to show your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or whoever, or would you rather have stories to tell them? When you are on your death bed, do you want to have a full box of pictures, or a full heart of all the love and hurt, tears and laughs, stress and peace that you felt over the years, even if you don't remember the exact story to go with the feelings? I'm not saying don't take pictures - just make sure you're actively in the moment that you're taking a picture of.
Stay healthy, or get healthy. I am not saying to lose weight or gain weight, so please don't think that - but make sure to stay healthy and active enough to where you can try new things. Go hiking with friends, even if it isn't your thing, because I guarantee it will give you memories and stories. Go out to the lake on a warm weekend, even if lakes sketch you out, because I guarantee it will leave you with a heart full of peace, or at least a good tan. Take a spin class with your best friend, because I guarantee it will leave you with a lot of laughter.
Get active. You haven't heard that before, right? But seriously, do it! College is so much more enjoyable if you do something besides going to class and going home. If you are a person of faith, any faith, there are more than likely organizations for that. If you have a particular philanthropy/cause you are passionate about, I guarantee that there is an organization that supports it. Get active in clubs that revolve around your passions, whether that be hiking, skiing, reading, Student Government, or anything else. I also highly recommenced going through recruitment for Greek Life, and that applies towards males and females reading this. I am personally in a sorority, and while I truly love it, I do recognize that it isn't for everyone. That said, it would be fitting for a lot of people that don't give it a chance. Because of that, I am not telling you to go join a sorority or fraternity - but do go through recruitment, have an open mind, get to know the Greek Life on your campus and what they do, and just see if it feels right for you. Even if you go far enough to get a bid, you don't have to accept it. But try it. See what it has to offer and see if it is right for you.
God Speed and Go Bucs,
Mikayla Moody
