We naturally fear the unknown. We are constantly in search of a way to know the outcomes of our decisions and a way to manipulate said outcomes; however, sometimes it's just best to let go and believe that life is about learning the things we never expected to, and, for me, college did just that. Yes, we are expected to incessantly memorize information (sometimes useless) from $300 books, I discovered that we learn just as much about ourselves and the lives we are leading along the way.
Life is better with friends.
I never realized it until I practically lived with them. I relied on knowing they'd religiously be at dinner every single day at 5:00 p.m. because I needed to laugh, to breathe. They were my saviors in a world where work wasn't just expected, but demanded 24/7. They were my piece of mind when it had gone out the window completely, but they were there to make fun of me for it, too. Memories are only as precious as the people who helped create them.
Linger at the dinner table.
I spent more waking time in the cafeteria than I did in my own room, but I wouldn't trade the hours I spent laughing with my friends who quickly became family to me. For once, no one was in a rush, and I loved the way the slow banter across the table felt after a long day of endlessly running in circles. We escaped from reality as we sat down at the same table every single day together, and I learned to not be so swift to return.
Play like a kid.
Some people try too hard to be adults. No one had to convince me of this at the beginning of the year as I was surrounded by adult children who were consumed in gossiping and chasing superficial lovers. However, I quickly figured out that I have the rest of my life to play the grown-up game, so on Saturdays we would play basketball, on sunny days we would play in the sand (or really pathetic volleyball), and on snow days, we would play in the snow. I am an adult, but I will be the first to admit that I will forever be a kid, as well.
Don't work so hard.
The grades are important, and even though it's easy to have a vision of where we want to be in the future, it's easier to lose sight of who we are becoming as we struggle along the way. We live in a world where we feel constantly judged by the people who always seem to be a step ahead. However, sometimes it took stepping away from the notebook to realize that at the same time landing a career is important, so are the people who worked just as patiently to believe that we can make it happen.
Smile at strangers.
They smile back.
Be spontaneous.
We don't always need a plan. Sometimes it's better just to take a breath, let go and see what happens. Some of the most beautiful friendships are a result of going to a last-minute Zumba class or on a random blue-jean run. It's never okay to live in the same monotony day in and day out, for that's when autopilot takes over our personalities.
Leave your comfort zone.
Only then can life truly begin. We all made the decision to leave our comfort zones as we let our parents drop us off in empty dorm rooms that resembled prison cells. That first night spent staring at the bare walls of our foreign new homes may have been discouraging, but there's a calm after it storms. It only takes that first leap of faith, and, in the end, we're better people for it, aren't we?
