It's hard to believe that my freshman year in college is already coming to a close. It seems like yesterday I pulled into Furman's gorgeous campus as a college student for the first time. College is what I was looking forward to for so long and it was finally here. Now, as I prepare for my final exams and the end of my first year in college, I reflect on the year's ups and downs, and I am thankful for the many lessons it has taught me.
Thank you for teaching me responsibility. There’s no one in college telling me not to have that second brownie, go to class, or even exercise. Thank you, freshman year for showing me that maturity is key to living a healthy lifestyle and being successful.
Thank you for teaching me time management. Again, no one is hovering over my back, telling me to study for that test, or to start writing that paper a week in advance. Thank you, freshman year for helping me realize (after some procrastination), that last minute work isn’t my best and that a planner book is my best friend.
Thank you for giving me new friendships that will last for years to come. Thank you for also keeping me connected with past friendships. Thank you that I have friends to come back to at home, and friends to come back to at school.
Thank you for making me step outside my comfort zone. Thank you that college is new, and that I cannot just wait for things to fall into place for me. Thank you that I have to take the initiative if I want to be successful in the future. After all, laziness is not something to be proud of having.
Thank you for helping me figure out my passions. Thank you for an array of classes and time before declaring my major. Thank you (as brutal as it was) taking a Japanese art class only to realize that I should stick to English and Spanish as my only foreign languages and that I should never take an art class if I don’t want my GPA to tank. Thank you for allowing me to explore my strengths and weakness in order to pinpoint where I will be successful in life.
Thank you for teaching me that I can say “no.” There are many organizations, class, and even dessert that will seem appetizing, but I should partake in all of them if I want to keep my sanity. Over-involvement is real and thank you for teaching me to say “no” so that I am not as overwhelmed.
Thank you for the failures. Thank you for showing me that a “no” isn’t the end of the world, and that God has another door open for me, and that the door he shut is for my best. Thank you for showing me that the Lord is faithful throughout struggles. and that he has my best interest in mind. His way is always best.
