5 Things

My first Husker game as a student

I got hit by the nostalgia truck today. I was cruising my Facebook page, and it blindsided me. All the moments that made up my college career rushed at me. So instead of bawling over memories, I decided to blog. My college experience was truly defined by these five statements.

5. Friendships can feel a lot like family.

This is something my mom told me about. In college, friends are more than the people who hang out with me. They are the folks who can look at me and really see to my core. They don’t buy my BS. They believe in me, encourage me, and upset me because they know me.

4. Whether someone likes you or not is their problem, not yours.

In my dream world everyone I meet becomes my best friend. Making friends is one of my favorite past times, mostly because I get a new audience for old stories. However, I can’t control others’ feelings toward me and I have to be OK with that.

3. Always say yes to the things good stories are made of.

Good stories are intelligent, entertaining, and have heart. They are not always the result of epic adventures. I can’t explain how I knew when I had to say yes to a moment, but each time I had an inner feeling that said, “This is something you need to do.” Whether it was international travel, or simply seeing a play, I realized that to be an interesting person, one has to do interesting things.

2. You CAN agree to disagree.

Those who know me know I love a good argument. I relish debates and discussions. Because of that I often seek out people who are up for an intense exchange. My weakness is that I sometimes take these conversations too far. I can be a bully in my zeal for an issue or idea. Thankfully there are dear friends in my life who disagree with what I believe. They not only challenge me to establish a strong foundation for my opinions, but they also teach me compassion and respect for everyone, even people I think are wrong.

1.  Your passions give meaning to life.

In college I faced the stark reality that I was no longer defined by my accomplishments. College is a kind of re-birth. This terrified me at first, but soon became a spark for my spirit. I set out to discover what I truly valued, what made up my core. I then gave my values my voice. I would not be ashamed of who God had made me to be, and would passionately act to grow accordingly.