If you are a current UCF student, then I'm sure you're already very familiar with the financial aid activities that have to be completed during the first week of classes every semester.

Up until recently, I had absolutely no idea that one of those activities would eventually result in so much more than just a completion grade and the disbursement of my financial aid for the term.

I completed it around 3:00 in the morning on a Tuesday (well, technically Wednesday). The goal of the activity was to fill out a pre-constructed template to introduce ourselves to our fellow peers and instructor. We were prompted to specify our majors/minors, how we connect with others in the 21st century, what our discussion, presentation, and problem-solving style is, and any other qualities that make us valuable when collaborating with others.

We then had to review and respond to at least one other student in the class based on the contents of his/her introductory template.

The ultimate goal of the assignment was to identify a few students in the class whom we would likely be compatible with when completing group projects throughout the term.

Let's face it, I really only did the assignment for the simple intention of satisfying the financial aid requirement for the course.

I woke up just a few hours after completing everything to what I had expected would be a typical day for me. Still getting over being terribly sick (and running late to class in the process), I quickly changed into some black leggings, a pink sweater, and a thick, pink jacket.

I wear contacts but had no choice but to put on my glasses, considering that only one single unused contact remained in my bedroom. I looked absolutely terrifying. Not wanting to put on any makeup was something I could live with, but resorting to putting my frizzy hair in a ponytail rather than straightening it was absolutely frustrating to me.

I got to campus with about 10 minutes to spare (making it to the class just 2 minutes ahead of time). As soon as my professor acknowledged my presence, the same student I had replied to for the assignment the night before exclaimed:

"So you're Amelia! You're the only one who replied to my discussion post!"

After class, we immediately hit it off. I'm pretty sure we talked for about an hour about practically everything that crossed our minds. It was the first time I had ever identified so much of myself in someone else before. What was especially uncanny was the fact that the majority of our conversation was held directly across from a koi fish pond right outside of the same building that I always used to walk by and never really explore.

Perhaps the koi fish pond was meant to symbolize uncharted territory that had been awaiting my discovery. It just took some time for me to find and enjoy it for myself. It's much like how life is. Certain experiences happen to us when they're meant to happen to us. We somehow just manage to stumble upon them when the time is right.

The friend, well, I'd say they're a supplement to that same symbolism. I've always had friends who I've been compatible with, but not always to the extent where every idea they express is something that I completely agree with without a single bit of hesitation.

Finding the new friend and koi fish pond taught me two important life lessons that day: you never really know what unexpected surprises life has in store for you, and you're never completely ready for them either.

They just...Happen...Out of nowhere.