After spring break, I know the end of the semester will feel like it’s rapidly approaching. I want to savor every moment I have left at the University, while still trying to balance my school and work life.
Like many, I’ve always understood periods of my life as chapters. This chapter is ending, but I have no idea what the next chapter is or who’s in it.
I have to remind myself that I’m still on break, and can still enjoy my time off with others while being committed to my summer job.
Just about everyone is dealing with difficult summer decisions, and what you do this summer does not necessarily determine your future. You can take comfort in the fact that this is a common experience for most students, and seek support from others in this precarious time.
With the summer approaching, I encourage students to find time to rest in the midst of summer classes, jobs and internships — and become comfortable with not being productive all the time. We all deserve it.
However, with this particular course and guest lecturer, it’s not medieval English texts or literary analysis that I’m learning about — instead, I’m learning more about myself.
It’s important that we continue to take risks and put ourselves in uncomfortable situations in order to grow as individuals.
It took time to feel ready to talk and write about how I’ve felt over the past few months, but this willingness to be open and honest has helped me heal.
My tattoos have become central aspects of my self-presentation — they’ve allowed me to freely express myself in a way where I feel more complete.
Perhaps the solution is to carve out your own standards of success and personal achievement — and to reframe your failures as lessons.
