As the final days of your Senior year comes to an end, you are left with the question, “what happens now?”. For some of you, college is only a couple of months away and then you will be sent off on a brand new journey. For others, work or the military will be your path of choice. Butterflies are starting to form in the pit of your stomach because now you are going to be on your own and experience life with a new set of lenses. Your parents are no longer going to be holding your hand and watching over you as closely as they were, it’s now up to you to apply those life lessons you were taught throughout the years. With each new pressing day you will be left with making decisions that you may not have been able to make on your own before. What happens now? A question that so many of us before you have had to answer when we first started our own journey. What will you do? How will you live your life? What path will you take on your transition to adulthood? These are questions that I want you to think about, but don’t answer them right away. Take a moment to breath in this soon-to-be new experience and reflect on it. I know you’re excited and the reality that you will soon be off on your own to make decisions for yourself is liberating.
With this upcoming new journey there will be some roadblocks that fall onto your path, but faint not. Those are just there to test your resilience. Life wasn’t meant to be easy, but if you stay focused and keep your eyes on the prize you can overcome anything. Some of those roadblocks may come in the form of broken friendships, a new relationship, a new job, difficult professor, roommate, or whatever, but just remember “when opportunity comes, opposition follows”. Pause for a moment, take a deep breath and place your hand over your heart, do you feel that steady beat? That means that whatever situation you are faced with hasn’t killed you! Keep in mind that you will NOT always make the best decisions or say the right things, but don’t allow that to define who you truly are! It’s okay to be unsure about life right now because this is all so new to you. What if I want to switch my major? Is this truly the career path I want to take? These questions may pop up from time to time, and that’s okay. We often second guess our decisions and fear the unknown, but do what makes YOU happy. I understand that some of you may be the first ones in your family to graduate and go off to college. That, in itself, is a huge accomplishment and you should be very proud! Many people back home may be depending on you to make it and that can put a lot of pressure on you. Every decision you make could be the beginning or the end of a bright future for yourself. Take each day and each moment one at at time. Don’t overwhelm yourself with thousands of possibilities or outcomes because most of them won’t fit your narrative. Instead, focus on what task you have at hand and give your all each day. Whatever you choose to do, you must decide if you are going to give the best version of yourself or coast through life doing the bare minimum.
You were born for greatness and there is a gift(s) inside of you that the world can’t wait to see. Never give up on yourself no matter how tough life gets. Set goals each day and knock them out one by one. I don’t care if it’s as small as making it to your 8am class on time, just DO it! Don’t allow people who don’t have any dreams, goals, or ambitions to deter you off of your path. Their failures are not your responsibility! You are only in control of yourself and the choices you make. Remember that “life is really like a box of chocolate, you never know what you are going to get” so always prepare! Never plan because it may not go as you want it to and then you will be left with the disappointment, but if you are prepared you will be able to pick up those broken pieces and move forward. People will come and go throughout your life, but just know that everything has a season and not everyone is meant to be there to cheer you on at the finish line. You will fall as many of us so often do, but don’t look at it as failure. Dust yourself off and try again! There will be many doors that may close in your face, but it takes only one door to be opened that can change your life forever. Sometimes opportunity may not always come knocking on your door, that’s when you need to knock on it’s door and let yourself in! Remember, you were destined for greatness and as you embark on this unfamiliar path know that we will be behind you cheering you on forward!
Excel by Alicia S. Azahar
What does excellence look like? I’m staring at it here today,
Being excellent isn’t just an act, but can be used in what we say,
It’s displayed in our ability to strive for merit in all we do,
It’s shown by pursuing our dreams until they do come true,
It’s not just about good grades, and being the star of the team,
Excellence is guided by our vision, to make our realities seen,
It’s well beyond what’s measured on our standard scale of feat,
Excellence is defined by our persistence even when we face defeat,
It’s shown by how we live our lives, and in the choices that we make,
Excellence is shown in our efforts, and in the risks that we take,
So stay focused on your task, and in everything you will do well,
Not just today, not just tomorrow, but every day you will excel!
Uninterrupted Thoughts 