A Third Year in Review.
“Enjoy the little things in life because one day you`ll look back and realize they were the big things.” ― Kurt Vonnegut
I didn't believe I could be halfway through my collegiate career until summer 2016 smacked me in the face. With a completed third year under my belt, I have only two years left as an undergraduate. What have I accomplished so far, and what else can I do in these final years to make my experience at UC even better than it's been?
What I believe to be a unique aspect of my third year at UC is that my experiences have become proactive and targeted in achieving my academic, career-oriented, and personal goals. In the past, I was so overwhelmed with the number of directions I could take with my life. I felt no pull towards one particular subject, cause, or hobby. I liked it all, and therefore experimented with everything. I only managed my time and involvement by eliminating those activities that I discovered were not as rewarding or impactful as my other involvements. However I never proactively sought involvement, I solely reacted and adjusted based on dislikes or disinterests. This method of reactive rather than proactive behavior permeated all aspects of my life. Relationships, job opportunities, and travel experiences would present themselves and I would take them because they were convenient and available. While at first I felt productive and involved, I never felt engaged with these activities. I became a bit aloof and struggled to find ways in which I could give more than the minimum. I volunteered, went to meetings, traveled for work and school, and took new classes, but I felt as though I was just walking through the motions.
The turning point was the weekend after returning from my study abroad trip in South America. I looked back on the year and all that I accomplished. All of the seemingly little situations - fixing an issue in an audit program at work, choosing to explore Santiago on my own for a day, deciding on a whim to plan a service trip to New Orleans, submitting my resume last minute to a leadership program, or beginning a yoga regime with a friend - have become incredibly significant events in my life. I found my passion for service through human engagement as well as gardening. I have learned to put my needs and wants first, rather than working only to mold myself to others. I discovered my academic calling for accounting and leadership. And I finally realized the role of mental health in my overall happiness after beginning yoga meditation and bonding with my closest friends.
Without reflection, I might not have made these connections and discoveries about myself and my role at UC, at home, as well as in my community. This has taught me to always Get Up, Dress Up, and Show Up. No one can predict the life lessons that will present themselves in any given day. I never would have found my passions if I had not tried as much as possible. And now that I have dabbled in all that I can these first years of college, I can spend my remaining years pursuing what makes me happy and helps me impact those around me.
I didn't believe I could be halfway through my collegiate career until summer 2016 smacked me in the face. With a completed third year under my belt, I have only two years left as an undergraduate. What have I accomplished so far, and what else can I do in these final years to make my experience at UC even better than it's been?
What I believe to be a unique aspect of my third year at UC is that my experiences have become proactive and targeted in achieving my academic, career-oriented, and personal goals. In the past, I was so overwhelmed with the number of directions I could take with my life. I felt no pull towards one particular subject, cause, or hobby. I liked it all, and therefore experimented with everything. I only managed my time and involvement by eliminating those activities that I discovered were not as rewarding or impactful as my other involvements. However I never proactively sought involvement, I solely reacted and adjusted based on dislikes or disinterests. This method of reactive rather than proactive behavior permeated all aspects of my life. Relationships, job opportunities, and travel experiences would present themselves and I would take them because they were convenient and available. While at first I felt productive and involved, I never felt engaged with these activities. I became a bit aloof and struggled to find ways in which I could give more than the minimum. I volunteered, went to meetings, traveled for work and school, and took new classes, but I felt as though I was just walking through the motions.
The turning point was the weekend after returning from my study abroad trip in South America. I looked back on the year and all that I accomplished. All of the seemingly little situations - fixing an issue in an audit program at work, choosing to explore Santiago on my own for a day, deciding on a whim to plan a service trip to New Orleans, submitting my resume last minute to a leadership program, or beginning a yoga regime with a friend - have become incredibly significant events in my life. I found my passion for service through human engagement as well as gardening. I have learned to put my needs and wants first, rather than working only to mold myself to others. I discovered my academic calling for accounting and leadership. And I finally realized the role of mental health in my overall happiness after beginning yoga meditation and bonding with my closest friends.
Without reflection, I might not have made these connections and discoveries about myself and my role at UC, at home, as well as in my community. This has taught me to always Get Up, Dress Up, and Show Up. No one can predict the life lessons that will present themselves in any given day. I never would have found my passions if I had not tried as much as possible. And now that I have dabbled in all that I can these first years of college, I can spend my remaining years pursuing what makes me happy and helps me impact those around me.