What I've Learned in College: Junior Year

Howdy! Sorry, it's been so long. I wasn't 100 percent sure what to blog about or when to. Anyways, this past school year has been much different than I'm sure I had imagined it to be prior to starting college. I spent the past year at home with majority of my classes taking place on line. So, to continue my 'What I've Learned in College' series I wrote a list of well, what I've learned this year.

I Love People

This past year Justin Bieber's best song 'Lonely' really hit home with me. One of the most difficult things about the past year, especially the first semester, was not having very many friends or my brother around while at home.  I mainly hung out with my parents and let me tell you, while I enjoyed doing activities together, but I can only watch so much 'Antiques Roadshow' before going crazy. I will say though my parents were enjoyable since Lance was gone. They seem to get upset, annoyed, and yell less when Lance or I is the only one at home. It's like their friends with us and not parents. Anyways, I really craved attention from people whom I didn't derive from their loins. I also really regret not continuing the relationships I had made in clubs in prior years because I think it would've really helped me feel like I had interaction with people. I hope to rejoin those clubs and build relationships again. It's better late than never...let's hope. Although, I did begin working at Kendra Scott which certainly helped me feel apart of the world as I was able to be around people closer to my age and talk about things aside from the history of beet sugar in Colorado. At work, I also got better at making acquantifriends. My social life also also benefitted when I had friends visit every month or so. The second semester was also easier since my friend Erin was in town, so we hung out quite a bit, which I enjoyed. I got to see my extended family on both sides more as well. Although, it was mostly for funerals I liked hanging out with my families as there are always entertaining stories to be told and cats and dogs to pet! This upcoming year, I really hope I can establish more relationships. Overall, I'm thankful for the people and opportunities I've had the pleasure to spend time with as I thrive when I talk with people, was able to have people besides my parents around me, and I got to leave the family compound. 

It's Hard to Continually Motivate Yourself

Photo of the Cameron Peak Fire while driving up to Fort Collins

With my classes being online I had a difficult time keeping motivation. There's something about being in person that adds more pressure to a course. Sitting in an office doing work while the daylight goes by makes you feel so bored and desiring to do something else. I've had to motivate myself before in sports and such, but for me that wasn't a day in and day out battle, it was more on occasion. As I write this I'm remembering that I would motivate myself daily to get up and go swim in the morning by telling myself that "Today is the best day of my life!" That way I kept in mind the things I was going to do were a privilege to do making it the best day of my life and the things I could add to make it the best day. I think I should've kept that mindset more. Although, I appreciate the few in person classes I had because I got to see people, know who I was turning things in to, and physically do things to learn. I'm glad I'll be able to resume real classes in the fall. 

Take Advantage and See the Silver Lining

 While, online classes weren't ideal I received so many opportunities that I might've not had otherwise, which really brings a silver lining to the situation! In September I was able to go to Kansas to attend my great aunt's funeral and see my brother. In October I was able to hang out with my friend Abby while she was in town. I also got to see my friend Nai in September and October. I almost certainly wouldn't have seen either of them had I been in Fort Collins. In November I got to pick my brother up from the airport and started a new job that lead me to drive more, improving my driving skillzz. In January I got to birdwatch with my brother which was very nice and sparked a new interest. In February, my friend Erin and I hung out while she was in town. March started off by Erin and I skiing which I hadn't before and the month continued with going up the mountain for my grandma's funeral. April, I got to go to Aspen with my parents which was fabulous! I also was able to read the newspaper of my favorite ghost town with my dad and laugh with him. I enjoyed that a lot as we followed the town throughout the year and compared things to today. Anyways, I know many of these things I wouldn't have done had I been in Fort Collins, so I'm super grateful I was able to do those things and see my friends more as my classes were conveniently online. It's certainly helpful to find enjoyment in rough circumstances and turn them into a positive thing! 

I Like College, not Rent

I didn't realize how much I enjoyed college since staying at home. I miss the people, the stories, and the activities. I don't miss crying about schoolwork or paying rent though. Rent sucks.

Trust in God's Timing, not Society's

Probably the most important thing I learned this past year is that we need to follow and be patient with God's plan and not ours or society's. In June I was talking with a customer, whom I noticed wore a Georgetown class ring, and discovered she was getting her law degree at like age 60 or 70, so I asked her how she got into it. She explained to me that she works in real estate and has been married and had kids, but is now working on getting her law degree via a four year program at DU. She basically told me how she decided to get it, took tests, and prayed to God saying that if He wanted her to do it she'd receive at least 50% off tuition. God gave her 50% tuition without her even applying for scholarships! So she went ahead and is taking classes now for her degree! However, she's in a different class that doesn't have many 23 year olds in it. Anyways, what I got from the conversation is that we need to be on God's timeline and not our own. I think society tells us we have to go to school, get a career, know what we want to do in life, work, get married, work, have a family, work, retire, and die. However, we don't have to do everything right away and have everything figured out because society says so, after all society isn't Christian (she used the term religious though). I'm pretty sure she's following God's plan by getting her law degree now, society might've wanted her to get it earlier or not at all! I mean God has different plans for all of us! Some get their law degrees at 65, some after undergrad, and other's not at all! She went on to tell me how the most successful Christian people she knows are patient with God's timing. They may have a difficult time being patient, but none the less they trust in God and his timing, and it seems to pays off. Overall, that's what I took away from the conversation. I also discovered her sons went to Regis and swam like me, so we know the same people. However, her sons were much older. Also, clearly my recollection isn't verbatim. I hope to see her again someday if it's in God's plan! Overall, we need to be patient and trust in God and His timing, not our own as He works for our good and we for His glory!

All in all I'm glad to be going back in the fall. More than anything I'm ready to get back in to real class work and creating friendships. However, I'm thankful for the opportunities I got this past year and the lessons I've learned, especially trusting in God and His timing! Thank You for reading, today is the best day of your life, and God Bless!