Each and every one of us has a different day-to-day, different experiences, and different aspirations. New ideas are presented to us on a consistent basis; if we’re lucky enough, we can take advantages of opportunities at various points in life. Some of these experiences are beneficial, others help us learn, and some have the power to turn our world upside down.
At nearly 23 years of age, I’ve experienced some of each. Here are a few of my personal experiences I’m grateful for:
1. Growing up close to family.
You don’t realize how much you appreciate having family nearby until you’re older. When everyone’s in close proximity, it’s easier to spend the holidays all together, but it’s even nicer to be able to stop by on a casual weekday. Your experiences growing up are shared; whether it’s trick-or-treating on Halloween together or playing baseball in grandma’s backyard. As you get older and family moves farther away, you come to appreciate the days you didn’t have to take vacation to go visit.
2. Attending a private school.
This is another experience you don’t truly appreciate until later stages in life. When your parents enroll you in school, you don’t reflect on how much they took into consideration when deciding where to send you. Private schools are demanding from both the financial and educational perspectives, and it’s a big commitment in both regards. Attending a private school from pre-school through twelfth grade has benefited me in more ways than one. It challenged me to spend more time on my studies, it introduced me to mentors who have positively impacted my decision-making, and it helped me advance my skills participating in activities I love. Most of all, it brought me together with a few of the best friends that I’ll have by my side forever.
3. Paying for college tuition.
College is one of the biggest expenses in your lifelong career, and in most cases, it’s not optional. Learning how to manage your finances is one of the most daunting tasks. There are a lot of equations that go into it, and a good amount of self-discipline to stick to the plan you’ve laid out. Back then, I never looked forward to the annual “budget” chat with my dad. Today, I am forever grateful that he taught me the value of money and how to manage it.
4. Moving to Chicago for four months.
The summer before my last year in college, I accepted a marketing internship in Chicago. I was on the fence when I got the offer, not knowing how I would be able to handle the big-city lifestyle. My family and a few friends convinced me to go, so I moved out there after final exams. I lived with my sister and brother-in-law (which I am also extremely thankful for), and even had a couple of friends living nearby. While I wasn’t too keen on the bus system, I loved every minute exploring the windy city. I will never regret taking that internship, because when else am I going to get a chance to live in a new city for a few months?
5. Losing loved ones.
Yes, you read that correctly. I’m not grateful that I lost loved ones because they’re not here with me – not a chance. I’m grateful because it taught me a lot of hard lessons that I wouldn’t have learned otherwise. I visit my family and friends whenever I get a chance. I pick up every phone call no matter how little time I have. I (try) not to stress out about little things, and while I still get upset about certain issues, my anger meter maxes out at an hour or two.
What I’ve learned at the end of all of this: life is borrowed. You’ll never have all of the knowledge, and you’ll never stop making mistakes. Take advantage of the opportunities in front of you because they might not present themselves in the future – and even if they do, you might not be in the position to accept them. Take action today.
