College is a rough and exciting time for everyone, whether you're going for a medical degree or just trying to get by with whatever degree your parents want you to have. Throughout the four years you learn a lot about yourself and everything you can handle. One of my favorite movies has always been Forrest Gump because of the many messages embedded in the story. After a long day of classes I came home and watched this movie and just like that it hit me. Forrest Gump and I have a lot in common.
We both have that friend that refuses to have fun.
Every group has that one person that would rather stay at home and watch movies than go out to the bars. I am that friend in my group, but I own it. Another name for this person would be a Debbie downer. Amongst all the fun and laughter they'll find a way to bring down the mood. Don't call these friends out though because when you need a shoulder to cry on or you just need a pick me up these friends will drop everything to make you smile again. They'll be there for you until the very end.
We both tend to run away from our problems.
Life can get hard sometimes and you just want to run away. Not forever, but until you figure yourself out. Forrest ran until he wanted to stop. We all run away from our problems at one time or another, but after a while we figured it out. That's the beauty of running away, you figure yourself out along the way.
We always stand by our friends.
No matter the distance or time that comes between us, we will always be friends. Forrest stuck by Jenny while she was out doing anything and everything. He was always thinking about where she was and how she was doing. When I moved away for school I made a new group of friends, but that doesn't mean I just forgot about my high school gang. Each and every one of them carry a special place in my heart.
We aren't exactly normal, but that's okay.
Just like Momma always said, "What does normal mean, anyway?" No one can tell you what normal is. Be who you want to be. You only have one life to live. YOLO man. Forrest never let anyone tell him he couldn't do something, and neither should you. Chase your wildest dream and enjoy every step of the way.
Sometimes we need a little guidance from the man on the moon.
Whether you're talking to Jesus, Budda or whoever, you need a little help from time to time. Jenny never forget the time Forrest and her prayed in the cornfield. There's a lot in life that we don't know, so we look up to the stars and ask for a little guidance. Life's a little more interesting when you leave your faith to fate.
We both follow our own path regardless of what others have to say about it.
Forrest spent his last penny to buy a shrimping boat, just like his promised Bubba. Everyone tends to make rash decisions and that's not always a bad thing. Sometimes it works out. Just look at Bubba Gump Shrimp. That's a real restaurant chain for those who weren't aware. College is the time to figure out what you want to do and who you want to be, so live out your wildest dreams. Go to that concert even though you have a paper due the next day, go on that spring break trip even if it breaks your bank, GO DO SOMETHING YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO. Stop putting it off. Enjoy being young before it's too late.
We don't have everything figured out yet.
How many times has someone asks you why did you pick your major? Why did you get that tattoo or piercing? Why did you move away for school? Why? Why? Why? Why? Listen people, we are still figuring this whole adult thing out. We don't have many answers, but don't look down on me because I don't have a solid 5 year plan. Honestly I'm just trying to graduate from college in one piece. Of course I'm worried about finding a job, but I have to graduate first.
We both agree that the best things in life are free.
Just like those 23 Dr. Peppers Forrest drank at the White House, college students LOVE free things. Whether it's a t-shirt, water bottle, or even a pen we get excited. Free things are the best. Luckily college campuses are full of freebies to distract you from the thousands of dollars your funneling into that fancy piece of paper. From lunch in the plaza to the Jimmy John's guy passing out free samples, free things really give your day a boost.
There's so much more to life than that mean kid on the playground, that class that made you cry daily, or the part-time job that makes you crazy.
LIfe is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. There's so much more to life than the things you learn on a college campus. There's so much more to learn after graduation that you can never learn from a textbook, so don't stop. Never lose your drive to learn because when you stop learning, you stop growing. Take in as much of the world as you can. Travel to a new place, read that book you've been holding onto for years. Step outside your comfort zone and see the beauty that has surrounded you from day one.
