I read "The Help" for the first time this summer, and I can't believe I had not read it before. There are so many life lessons packed into those 522 pages. But my favorite quote from the book is what Aibileen Clark reminds the child she nannies again and again. "You is kind, you is smart, you is important."
That idea is one we need to try to hold on to as we journey back into school. I'm already stressed about my classes and worried about making it on time to that 8 a.m. My calendar is quickly filling with different appointments and responsibilities. But as I began to panic, I came across the quote in the book for the third time and decided to hold on to the notion.
You is kind. College is stressful. And it can be very easy to lose yourself throughout both the school work and social aspects. When I stress, I get snappy and impatient. But try to remember your true personality during the more stressful scenarios you'll run into during the year. Positivity is key to handling a sticky situation. You never know when a simple smile is going to brighten up someone's day.
You is smart. The one thing I did not miss about college this summer was all the work. You're measured all year by numbers and letters. So many people, myself included, end up evaluating themselves based simply on grades. There will be times when you get that paper back with a low letter or don't do as well on that test you studied for all week. But don't let failures get you down; use them as a drive to do better next time. You is smart, man.
You is important. It's easy to get lost in the crowd at a school with 25,000 other students. Finding your personal identity can be hard in such an overwhelming environment. Stay true to your beliefs, especially when those around you don't agree. Play to your strengths, but learn from your weaknesses. Listen to that conscious voice inside your head. It's usually right.
So as you prepare for a new semester, I hope you remember who you really are and how you want to be defined. You is kind, you is smart, and you is important.
