This past year and a half has been full of huge milestones. Between high school accomplishments, prom, graduation, and college experiences, I’ve learned more lessons about life than I have in academics. Whether it was dealing with friends, boy drama, stress from schoolwork, parents adjusting to an empty nest, or all of the above all at the same time, this year for me included some of the wildest memories I will ever create. From the mistakes and the madness, I’ve collected a few incredibly valuable lessons:
1. Always leave the door ajar.
You really never know what you may come across in life. Don’t leave the door wide open so that anything, good or bad, can just flow in. But do not shut down any opportunity. You’ll miss out on more than you can fathom.
2. Prioritize properly.
Don’t put anything else before yourself. If that means putting your academics, sports, or extracurriculars before socializing with or helping out other people, do it. People come and go, but you will always be left with yourself. Do what is going to be best for you in the end! Your friends, peers, or significant others should understand if you need to reschedule every now and then.
3. Stick to your morals/values.
In an era of casual sex, drug usage, and just bad influences, you need to remember who you are and why you stand by the beliefs you have. Don’t forget them. The minute you toss them aside to take on someone else’s values, you’ve lost who you are. That being said, be careful who you associate yourself with. College is where you will find some of your greatest friends. Choose cautiously. Their influence can last a lifetime.
4. Don’t have too many expectations.
The more expectations you have and the higher bar you set, the more disappointed you’ll be when things don’t always go your way. While it’s good to plan ahead, sometimes you just need to let time do its job and go with the flow. However, don’t be indifferent and have no expectations or standards. There has to be a set bar, as long as it is not unrealistic.
5. It’s up to you to find beauty in the ugly days.
There will be a time where life just drags on and on and you may wonder why you bother to exist. Just remember, you’ve only finish a quarter of your life. Seventy-five percent of it is still out there, waiting for you to make the most of it. You will never know what happiness and good things are in life if you don’t experience the brutal nasty moments the universe hands to you. Stop dwelling on the negative. There’s something good to be found in everything. Find it, and it’ll brighten your dimmer days. Any day can turn out to be great.
6. Take a break.
There is absolutely no need to be so serious all the time. Take time to find new interests, delve into hobbies, or take care of yourself (exercise, healthier diet/lifestyle, traveling to new places around town). Your mind and body can only work so much and absorb so much at a time before you become counterproductive. There is nothing wrong with having fun and letting loose occasionally.
7. People will hurt you.
It’s unavoidable. You just need to take each wound as a learning experience and use it as a step to rise above it. Whatever you do, don’t use it as a crutch to be stupid or make bad choices. Furthermore, choose to filter what you let stab you deeply. Sometimes, the hurt is not worth your time and energy nor will you grow better from it. At the end of the day, you are the one in control of what you let get to you, so be wise about it. That being said, don’t center your life around one person. If this person turns around and hurts you, you’re going to shatter. Gluing together a billion pieces is tough.
I hope everyone had a wonderful school year. To the seniors leaving CMU, congratulations! You made it through four hellish years (five if you’re an archie) and should be so proud of your accomplishments. Good luck with life after graduation! As for the rest of us, let our summer adventures roll on in.