On my Instagram, my first photo from 4 years ago, is of me on campus with a nice soft smile. The caption reads, “Ready to start the journey.”
College was more than a journey. College was more than just a rollercoaster.
At times it felt like I was getting run over by a semi.
At times it felt like I being hugged by the world.
At times it felt like I just missed joining the Olympics by a few seconds.
At times it felt like I forgot how to breathe.
At times it felt like I won the lottery…twice in a row.
I have done a lot of reflection the last few weeks. As I sell my furniture. As I finish my last class as an undergraduate. As I pack my suitcases.
Reflection always comes when life gets real…real quick.
So, here I am. Staring at this photo. Trying to remember what was going on in that 18 year olds head. How am I different?
I like lists.
Here are 100 things college has shown me.
- Live your life. Not someone else’s life.
- If you choose to follow #1 do it boldly.
- Find mentors
- Listen to your mentors
- Be grateful
- Call your family
- Call your friends
- Smile until your cheeks hurt
- Kill the world with kindness
- Vulnerability is scary, but so worth it
- Foster friendships
- Don’t be afraid of strangers
- Don’t let fear hold you back
- Purchase an umbrella
- Be spontaneous
- Follow your gut
- Treat your gut well with healthy food
- Exercise as much as you study
- Don’t live in books
- Be present
- Find what you are good at
- Listen to the world speak
- Empathy, empathy, empathy
- zeal, zeal, zeal
- Haters gonna hate
- No excuse is good enough
- Action expresses priority
- Prayer is active
- Crying is okay
- Emotions are okay
- Frustration is okay
- Call people by their name
- Look people in the eye
- Hug people
- Sometimes just being is enough
- Be creative
- Sacrifice
- Find a Church
- Never miss a Sunday
- Find a quiet place
- Reflection, reflection, reflection
- Find woke people
- Fellowship with woke people
- Wear the clothes you want to wear
- Fall asleep in weird places
- Life is fun if you make it fun
- Life is boring if you make it boring
- Tell people that you love them
- Tell your crush that you like them
- Embody courage
- Patience isn’t something you learn right away
- Your future is so bright you need shades
- Serve the poor
- Listen to the narratives of the underserved
- Buy someone a coffee
- Buy someone a gift randomly
- Write a friend a letter
- You may think no one understands you, we are all human
- Because I am human, I have limits
- Only God can give me peace
- The world is dark, be a light
- Be the salt of the earth
- Don’t wear green shorts and a green shirt
- Being silly is a good thing.
- Laugh at failure/mistakes and move on
- Some people come to your life for a reason
- Other people need to leave your life for a reason
- Be consistent
- Don’t say you are if you haven’t shown it
- Dance like everyone is watching and kill it
- Humility, humility, humility
- Take deep breaths
- Make sure you have a towel on the rack before you jump in the shower.
- Take cold showers to wake up.
- Don’t be idle
- Don’t live in your own head.
- Heartbreaks heal in time
- Don’t be jealous
- Ask for help
- Organize your desk
- 4 years goes by like lightning
- Stop the vanity
- Run in the rain with your friends
- Kiss someone like spiderman
- Be someone’s superhero
- Don’t buy what you don’t need
- Don’t clutter your life, throw stuff away
- Jesus Christ anchors
- Get nice hats for bad hair days
- Don’t feel obligated
- Put down that cell phone
- Pick up that Bible
- Live away from home
- Find your home
- Take a random elective
- Push yourself to always be better
- Yes or No, don’t live a life of maybe
- Take action
- Read between the lines of textbooks
100. Nothing matters but loving God and the people He has made.
Woke Bro.. so Woke.
Grateful for the deep convos and silly ones too, you inspire me.
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