Here's a brief recap of what I have been up to!
DISNEYLAND WITH MY KAPPA SISTERS!
We spent a day at the Happiest Place on Earth for our Sisterhood event!
SPREADING CHRISTMAS SPIRITMy roommates and I took a break from studying for finals to build this lovely gingerbread house creation....
DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY!One of my best friends Colleen and I are pictured above with our dates at Kappa Winter Formal!
ENJOYING THE BEAUTY OF SD
I took a walk on Black's Beach and reveled at the beauty of the area even when shrouded in fog!
Other ramblings:
I recently decided to go ahead and pursue a double major- English and Communications. After many long talks with my father, my roommates, myself and my wall, I decided to go with a double major. Why? Well, both subjects interest me. The class descriptions seem pretty fascinating for the most part, and both can be applied to my possible future, whatever that will be.
The questions, Where do you see yourself in 5 years? and, What do you want to do when you graduate? absolutely terrify me! I used to think I had everything figured out. I had my plan ready to go: my three easy steps to perfect happiness ended with a career, husband, and eventually, children.
College has a funny way of turning you and who you think you are, inside out. In a nostalgic moment reminiscing with my current roommates about our first impressions of each other move in day freshman year, I became aware of just how different each of us had become. We had all grown up and matured after living on our own and dealing with life without Mom and Dad down the hall. Now, I won't say that I am completely changed; I still enjoy The Office, baking, and going to bed early among other things. Rather, what has changed resides a little bit deeper in the core of who I am. I learned to think differently, opening up my mind to the world around me. I learned to communicate clearly, handling conflicts with gentle words and truly listening to the other person. I also learned that college is so much more than what the movies portray to us. I truly value the education that USD has been giving me.
Another thing I realized I value most is time. Now, time is a big thing in life: it encompasses everything from what time you eat, what time you sleep, what time you study, and what time you need to wake up for that 8am class... Being on time is of utmost importance, and giving your time is the most precious gift you could give to anyone.
It is so easy to tell someone, "Hey I'm sorry, I really don't have time today to meet up, can we reschedule?" Sometimes we find ourselves too busy to even ask how someone is and wait around for an answer more than "good". We barely have enough time to eat between studying for finals, so how could we even be expected to do anything else?
What I have learned is how much of a difference five minutes can make. You can tell someone you love them. You can make plans. You can place a quick phone call, or even just send a text! You can smile at someone who looks sad. You can hold the door. You can let that car that won't let you into the other lane pass you. These five minute (or less!) acts of kindness not only turn someone else's day around, they can benefit you as well. We should never be too busy to care about one another. Without friends and without family, where would we be? We can keep these relationships alive and help ourselves (and others!) to truly enjoy life. We aren't made to be continuously rushing around. Sometimes, yes, we may be hurried. But at the end of the day, what matters more? Five minutes wasted here and there as you rush around, or five minutes it took to talk to your friend, your mom, or your sister? At the end of the day, what truly matters is our relationships with others and ourself. We need to always keep that in mind.
During this holiday season, I urge you to take a deep breath. Look around. What could you do to make someone's life better? What could you do to help yourself? Let go of the anxieties that may grip you. Enjoy the time spent with family and good friends. Maybe you just finished finals and need a break. Maybe you are finishing up college applications. Maybe you are finally hearing back from schools! Maybe you are trying to figure out what to do after graduation. Wherever you may be in life, breathe in and breath out. Remember the reason for Christmas. God gave us the greatest gift of His son Jesus. He lived his life and died for us. Are you trying to find that perfect gift for your mom? Try giving her your time. Now, think to yourself: What could I do for someone in five minutes?
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year :)
With love,
Avery
