It seemed as if just yesterday, I sat down in front of my laptop and began writing my first opinion piece for all to read. Now here I am exactly five months later, in the very same place, thinking of an appropriate end to my column and to such an enjoyable and memorable semester.
It seems that I’ve made a lot of friends this year and lost some in the process as well. I’ve talked to a lot of amazing people and had a lot of people talk about me. I have shed a few tears, made a few cry and spent many long newsroom nights, my closest colleagues and I, literally, laughing our troubles away.
Through it all, I got to know the true meaning of determination and most of all teamwork. I’ve gained so much in so little time having myself a taste of the bitter and of the sweet. I guess frankly, I’ve learned just to get along. It’s better that way.
I do believe that “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’ll get” and boy, was I surprised more than a few times this semester when things didn’t go according to plan.
So much in life comes unexpected or like this last column of mine, completely by surprise. It’s up to us how we deal and also what we take from our situation or circumstance when everything is said and done.
We must think not as the typical college student, but as individuals and as human beings, to look objectively at the world and the problems in it. We must learn to see past our childish differences and actually grow up, taking up our role as young adults in the real world and in our community.
Problems, struggles and shortcomings are what makes us who we are and what makes us all so different. We must be willing to take what we can from these mishaps, growing and thriving the best we know how, drawing encouragement and support from one another.
Through a lot of life’s pitfalls we can gain more knowledge and wisdom, if we are willing to look a little harder and a little deeper within. The lessons in life aren’t always the one’s we enjoy the most when learning, but they are what teaches us a little more about ourselves and this wonderful world we all share in together.
