This I Believe.
As a member of the University of Cincinnati Honors Program, it has been highly encouraged that I take time to reflect on past experiences in my life to help me gain a better understanding of both who I am as a young woman as well as the beliefs and opinions I value most. Through my "This I Believe" statement, I have done just that: discovered what I believe to be the best perspective on life. I am glad I have been given the opportunity to really think about what core values I hold most dear and how I implement them in my life, and I hope that the same sense of satisfaction can be derived from your own reflection.
A person's state of mind can determine the degree of success she will accomplish in life. A positive, steadfast attitude about your goals will put you right where you want to be, even if that place isn't exactly what was planned. I say this for many reasons, but mainly because it has been such a prevalent part of my life thus far.
I have found myself repeatedly stopping in the middle of activities because the thought "I am really happy. What a blessed life I live." pops into my mind. Unintentionally, I remind myself of this almost every day. This knowledge that I am not only happy but can continue to be through positive thinking really hit home to me this past week when I went through Panhellenic Formal Recruitment here at UC.
Originally, I had no intention to go Greek. It was a friend that implored me to go through recruitment with her so that she was not alone who convinced me to sign up. I was skeptical about Greek life, but still attempted to keep an open mind about the upcoming events. My expectations were not disappointed when the first weekend consisted of overexcited sorority girls obsessing over how “ah-mazing” their sorority was during the insignificant conversations I would hold with them. You could say that after that first weekend, I was a very overwhelmed, confused, and mostly exhausted first-year college student.
After the weekend ended and I had time to recuperate however, I really reflected on my experience. It is weird to think I came to the conclusion that I actually loved that weekend. That weekend was an opportunity for something new, something bigger, something greater, and I really became excited to be a part of it all. I thought, if I can go into this next weekend with a positive and open mind, maybe I can find a group of girls that will serve as my rock and foundation at the University of Cincinnati. Needless to say, this is exactly what I found.
I went into the remainder of my houses seeking the best things in all of them. Although initially discouraged when I found few connections, I kept moving forward because I knew if I looked hard enough I would find that spark. Every night was a hard decision, but I knew that each night was a step closer to finding something great. Preference Night, the final night before I picked my top house, things fell into place and I fell in love with Chi Omega. I found a group of girls that embodied my values and beliefs. Had I let my discouragement stop me from continuing, I would not have found Chi Omega. But I viewed recruitment as a process that could only bring positive outcomes.
The power of positive thinking is real and effective. Even if it leads you to somewhere completely unexpected, it is a place where you are meant to be and where you are meant to shine. This I believe.
I have found myself repeatedly stopping in the middle of activities because the thought "I am really happy. What a blessed life I live." pops into my mind. Unintentionally, I remind myself of this almost every day. This knowledge that I am not only happy but can continue to be through positive thinking really hit home to me this past week when I went through Panhellenic Formal Recruitment here at UC.
Originally, I had no intention to go Greek. It was a friend that implored me to go through recruitment with her so that she was not alone who convinced me to sign up. I was skeptical about Greek life, but still attempted to keep an open mind about the upcoming events. My expectations were not disappointed when the first weekend consisted of overexcited sorority girls obsessing over how “ah-mazing” their sorority was during the insignificant conversations I would hold with them. You could say that after that first weekend, I was a very overwhelmed, confused, and mostly exhausted first-year college student.
After the weekend ended and I had time to recuperate however, I really reflected on my experience. It is weird to think I came to the conclusion that I actually loved that weekend. That weekend was an opportunity for something new, something bigger, something greater, and I really became excited to be a part of it all. I thought, if I can go into this next weekend with a positive and open mind, maybe I can find a group of girls that will serve as my rock and foundation at the University of Cincinnati. Needless to say, this is exactly what I found.
I went into the remainder of my houses seeking the best things in all of them. Although initially discouraged when I found few connections, I kept moving forward because I knew if I looked hard enough I would find that spark. Every night was a hard decision, but I knew that each night was a step closer to finding something great. Preference Night, the final night before I picked my top house, things fell into place and I fell in love with Chi Omega. I found a group of girls that embodied my values and beliefs. Had I let my discouragement stop me from continuing, I would not have found Chi Omega. But I viewed recruitment as a process that could only bring positive outcomes.
The power of positive thinking is real and effective. Even if it leads you to somewhere completely unexpected, it is a place where you are meant to be and where you are meant to shine. This I believe.
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