“I’m from very little possessions, I’m from quite a lot of love, and I’m for challenges.
I’m from dark times, I’m from trying times, and I’m for finding sunshine.
I’m from doubt, I’m from fear, and I’m for hopes and dreams.
I’m from lonely, I’m from hate, and I’m for love and relationships.
I’m from my way or the highway, from you’ll be just like me, from you can and I’m proud of you.
I’m for it can happen, go with the flow, I’m for open minds, hearts and arms.
I’m for the one who died for me, I’m for being who he planned for me to be.
I know where I’m from and when I leave that behind I’m not quite sure where I’m going. But I know what I’m for and I’m taking that with me. “
I just shared with you a poem I wrote this weekend at our RA (resident assistant) retreat. My poem was inspired by one of the resident directors here at UAH, the Amazing Amy Pounders. This weekend for me was full of much needed and well overdue self-reflection. Up until this weekend, I’ve always been on the move or keeping myself occupied with music, doodling and constant refreshing of my social media. This weekend however, I used my time to interact with my staff and get to know myself a little better. The retreat put a few things into perspective for me.
I realized that sometimes you have to take a moment to check in with yourself, see where you stand.
This might mean separating from the social setting where you feel you have to put on that fake smile or keep quiet to avoid attention. It might mean checking in on your physical, mental and emotional health. Do I like the way I am? Sometimes, we worry so much about others that we forget ourselves. Am I still excited and committed to this position? This could just mean taking a moment to find out what you’re actually passionate about, a time to figure out just where your values lie and if you’re putting forth the effort to accomplish a goal you set a while back.
There will come a time when you need to look back on what you’ve been through.
There’s a song called “I Know Where I’ve Been.” Many people may have heard it performed by Queen Latifah in “Hairspray.” Personally, I know it from “Glee” where it was covered by Alex Newell. The song talks about a light where the singer happens to be in the dark. The light is showing the singer where to go but the singer insists that they know where they’ve been. The way I see it is even if you’re alright and things are going well, how you got to where you are now. What shaped you? Was it that physics class you didn’t think you could bring a C out of? Is it the memory of hard times at home and the rough times in middle school? Where have you been? In the shadows, sheltered, in the spotlight or all alone. You need to acknowledge the past and one day be ready to leave it behind.
And if you’re not sure where you’re headed, find out what you’re for.
When people ask me what I plan to do with my major or where I see myself after I graduate? I usually reply with “I’m not sure," or "I’m just going with the flow.” I’ve been told I’m cutting it pretty close. I think I’m doing just fine. You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going. You have plenty of time but you shouldn’t waste it. Figure out what you’re for because that’s the missing piece to the puzzle. I may be from a single parent home, a Christian background, a family of workers instead of college graduates and a place of uncertainty, but I know that I’m for love and the relationship over religion. I’m looking forward to marriage and my degree while learning to trust the man upstairs.
So tell me, where are you?
