At nineteen years old, it is easy to see how life is passing by ever so quickly. Thus far, my life has been filled with adventure and endless opportunity, yet I can't help but think about the small moments that are slipping away. College is the perfect time to explore and expand my horizons, with abundant freedom, opportunity, and curiosity.
1. Express more gratitude.
There have been so many people who have gotten me to where I am today. Starting to routinely share my thanks, to show them how much their generosity and love has meant to me over the years is something I would like to start doing. Aside from the "thank you's" i often give here and there, I would really love to start doing more for the people who have done the most for me.
2. Stop being so shy.
I am a very shy person by nature, and that's okay! However, sometimes being so timid gets in the way of my life and stops me from putting myself out there in instances where I probably should have. Before turning twenty, I would like to embrace my spontaneous side and wave goodbye to the shyness that has held me back in the past.
3. Embrace my oddities.
Everyone has a weird side of themselves, but only some people choose to let it show. I want to choose to let my weird side show before I turn twenty because I am more myself when I embrace every part of who I am, even my oddities. If people cannot except my weird self, then they do not deserve to enjoy my un-weird self.
4. Make more friends.
It is extremely easy to be comfortable and stay within one friend group, but before twenty, I would like to make an effort to become friends with more people outside of my circle of friends, who are still searching for that inner circle of friends. There is no reason people should have to go through college without friends, and there are also never enough friends to be had.
5. Rid my thoughts of all judgement.
It is very easy to judge people who are different than yourself. It is my goal, before twenty, to be able to truly understand other people and how they choose to live their lives without judging them in any way. If I live judgement free, I will be able to understand things more clearly and with an open mind.
6. Speak my mind.
It is very easy for me to bottle up feelings, and remain silent in times where I should speak up. Before I am twenty, I would like to learn to speak my mind and tell people if something is bothering me. I will stand up for myself and no longer let anyone walk over me.
7. Go on a service trip.
It has been a lifelong goal of mine to go on a service trip to a less fortunate country and offer my help to anyone who needs it. Before I am twenty, I would like to travel to a country and help administer health services and work with women and children in shelters.
8. Read more.
I tend not to read many books. Even as a child, I would choose do immerse myself in other activities to avoid picking up a book and reading. However I have noticed that there is some joy in reading, and before I turn twenty I would like to find time to read a book start to finish for enjoyment.
9. Focus more on school.
While I am a good student, it is extremely easy to get distracted from schoolwork in college. I would like to make it my goal to attend the library more and focus more on schoolwork before I turn twenty. When I put my mind to my studies, I see a significant difference in my grades. If I had this focus all year round my overall grades will improve greatly.
10. Enjoy the little things.
It is very easy to get so wrapped up in life that it passes by without a second thought. Before I am twenty I want to take the time to really enjoy, understand, and appreciate every moment of the day. By doing this, I will really have the time to understand and execute all 10 things that I want to do by 20.
