As I am currently knee-deep in winter break, there’s not a lot on my mind. No more exams or due dates on the brain. Christmas and New Year's have passed. Life's pretty much smooth sailing at this point. Past all of those mornings I've slept-in and Netflix shows I am binge-watching, however, I’m thinking about next semester.

New class schedule, new teachers, new classmates…I feel nothing but excitement when I think about my next semester. To me, a new semester means a refreshed beginning, a renewed chance at classes, and an overall opportunity to improve not only my GPA, but myself as well. There’s nothing better than a fresh start in this life.

This new semester has so much potential, so many opportunities for success as well as for failure. You’ll surely face many new challenges, many which will test you to your very limits, but look at where you are. Look at how far you’ve come. Look at what has happened to you, and how you’ve used it to grow and move forward. Every day you choose to get out of bed and go about your day is a day you chose life, a day you chose to improve yourself. And the best part is, this new semester is the ideal time to do just that!

So, spend your refreshing, completely amazing winter break with your family and friends. Enjoy the comforts of home. When you think about going back to school following break, be excited about the new semester and what’s good to come, not despaired at the thought of all the stress to come. There truly is so much potential looming there, whether you’re a freshman going into your second semester ever, or a senior going to into your last semester ever. All in all, do your best, and this upcoming semester will bring you nothing about upward growth and joy. It's right around the corner!