The end of the semester is rapidly approaching. We can all taste the freedom that's about to hit the tip of our tongues with summer. It is so close, yet so far. However, the problem with that is the same problem with trying to get through this semester when it only just begun.

I'm sure we've all had a point in our lives where a school year or semester just flew by. One second you're assigned to read the syllabus and the next you're signing up to take your final exam. And sometimes it seems like the semester has dragged on for years when it's only been eight weeks. However long your semester is feeling, don't wish it away. There are so many good things that happen in one day that we miss because we are too stressed of what you're going to do after graduation or too preoccupied with how much you're going to study for your next exam. In the midst of this, we can find ourselves in a rut, slaving over the next discussion board or study guide we have to make. Just trying to get by seems like the only way through it.

Dang, how sad is that?! I promise you there are much better ways to get through a hard semester or periods of time in your life that helps you make the most of them. Personally, I like to keep a gratitude journal. At the end of each day, I write down three things that I am grateful for. Not only does it ease my mind before bed, but it also helps me keep an eye out for good things that happen during the day. "No I didn't do as well as I would have liked on this exam, but that is one less thing on my mind and now I can go to that dinner with friends!" Simple changes in perspective like this improve our mentality towards the "to do" to "get to".

So why don't we stop surviving and start thriving! It doesn't have to be some huge transformation of oneself. It can be one thought that's negative turned positive. Once we start thinking like this, our semester is going to fly by, but also be filled with happier and better experiences. Why not try it out?