Three weeks ago, a friend pushed me into creating a clean resume, going to an internship fair, and attending a club (UCF's Society of Sales Engineers) that would empower the greatest thing I lacked: confidence.
That push was enough to make me work harder each day. Everything I've held inside me, all the plans I've imagined, ideas I've thought of, and things I've started but never finished, burst into action! It wasn't just that push that made it happen, everything was already building up to that specific moment.
That push was like a light switch, all the electrical and mechanical components connecting to the lightbulb already built, just waiting for electricity to flow right through it. As light appears in front of you, it's an amazing feeling. Opportunities you denied or ignored beckon you to see what would happen if you at least tried it. Two weeks ago, at the Society of Sales Engineers, the meeting closed with a young, self-made business owner recruiting help for his device repairs. I walked out at the end of the meeting, and I remember stopping half-way, asking myself: "Would it hurt to just ask what the job consists of?" I decided to walk back, a little hesitant. Right now, he's training me to repair devices from iPhones to TV's and Surface Pros, an experience I would've missed had I not walked back.
I was on the roll. Transporting 40-55 minutes from my parent's home to UCF for a year and a half, I've always felt I would have more control over what I wanted to do if I lived closer to UCF. I'm currently in the process of leasing a room, with the condition that I pay for my own rent, food, and expenses. My life felt like it was really moving forward, until I was losing energy, feeling slightly weaker, less motivated and ultimately sad. Three days ago, I broke down. My heart felt heavy, tears wouldn't stop pouring; I felt depressed. It didn't click to me until my sister told me to listen to my body. "Angelika," my sister said, "you, breaking down, is your body telling you, that you're doing something wrong." She continued by saying. "Have you been getting enough sleep?"
How many times have you prioritized something over sleep, eating, or taking care of yourself? The greatest technology in the world isn't your iPhone, laptop, fridge, or food processor. It's your body. We're essentially a bunch of food bodies. Your body tells you when you're hungry; when you need comfort. It tells you everything you need emotionally, physically, and even mentally. So the next time you feel like something is wrong, try not to look online, but listen to your body instead.
