Graduations remind me of how awesome people are.

Now I’m talking about high school graduations here because let’s just face the fact that kindergarten graduates aren’t about to take over the world.

Graduation is such an exciting time. You’re looking forward to college or a “real” job. Everything is new and look! Independence! It is as fun as it looks (but it’s still nice to come home).

You have opportunities ahead of you in a time where you’re able to be spontaneous. I’m talking about 2am doughnut runs and jamming to Let it Go in the Walmart parking lot sort of spontaneous here. Aiming high, folks. From someone who’s in the middle of that: it rocks. The whole world is at your fingertips and it’s your time to grow into the person you are meant to be.

You’ve got all these crazy adventures to look forward to and enjoy. But at the same time, you have responsibilities.

Ugh. Right?

No!

It’s not that bad, people.

Remember when you were little and all you wanted was to be grow up because it looked so cool? Well guess what? Now you are. We’ve all got lots to learn, but in the eyes of society you’re now an adult.

And with that comes bills you have to pay, relationships you have to work on, and other people you have to answer to. You have to earn your way in the world now, graduates! It’s probably not going to be easy, but it’s going to be worth it.

There is so much you can do with your life. Right now we’re young and independent and learning, so take the time to work on becoming the best version of yourself. You have talents and gifts that God gave to you specifically for a reason. Hopefully you have an idea of what those gifts are to be able to use and develop them. If not, start volunteering and reading about potential jobs and talking with people! Especially if you’re going to college, there is no better time in your life to work on who you are and what you’re made of. It’s a time to solidify your beliefs and dream big,

You’re about to embark on a new adventure, and here’s what I have to say: always give 100%. At least you’ll have a good story if it was a bad idea. And if you give 100% in the everyday important things, you’ll be going places in no time.

Your whole life is a story yet to be told. Regardless of when you graduate (next year, next week, or 20 years ago), it’s your job now to give back to the world and make it a better place. Life is one big adventure, and with companions by your side, and God to guide you, you’re in for the ride of your life. Literally.

So hold on! Adventure is out there. No matter who you are or where you are in your life, you are meant for greatness in whatever you are doing. Own your adventure.

Freshman year taught me many things. This year? It did not fail in this department. At all. Looking back to last August, it’s hard to believe how much I’ve experienced and learned. Here is my attempt to put into words what lessons God taught me through the opportunities and challenges he put before me.

And since there are 7 things here, I’ll link this up with Jen at Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes this Friday. 

Invest in friends and listen to them.

I am so thankful for this time in my life because the whole world is at my fingertips. I can go to Mass, see friends, and go to fun events everyday. But this also makes it easy to get caught up in doing ALL THE THINGS and not really focusing on any one of them. Sometime this year I made a conscious effort to listen to people more and talk less, and it’s something I am grateful for. Everyone has a story to tell, and it is a privilege when friends invite you into their lives by sharing a bit of their hearts.

Forgive, even if you can’t forget.

I’ve learned to bite my tongue when needed (not that it happens every time). I’ve experienced how much it hurts to be . . . hurt. And I’ve discovered the power in forgiving others, even when you don’t want to. Even when you’re hurt by something or someone, being able to move on with my life gives me the freedom to not let issues people have or things they say define how I live. But let me tell you: it’s much easier said than done.

Organization = sanity.

A messy desk makes me more stressed out. And the condition of my room reflects the state of my mind (most of the time). So, maybe keep your space cleaner, eh? Definitely a work in progress . . . 🙂

You don’t know their stories.

Everyone has a story, and you don’t know everyone’s (not that I ever thought I did). You can’t assume why a person did or said something. You just don’t know. Even when you think you know the person well enough, people change. You don’t know their motivations. Remember that. Assuming the best of others frees me from the plaguing thoughts of how rude they were. It forces me to focus on how I should respond differently in the future, not how they should treat me differently.

TV is a complete waste of time.

Ha! You may disagree. Granted, I did watch a bit of Duck Dynasty in the beginning of the year. We’ve watched a few movies. I watched some Nanny 911 last semester. But did any of that make  me a better version of myself? Not really! Without a tv at school, I don’t miss it. Nor do I think about it often. My life is better without the distraction of tv. I do watch YouTube videos quite often, and every once in a while I’ll use Netflix. But it comes down to the fact that ain’t nobody got time foh dat. I’ve got better things to do with my time.

You get what you put into something (duh).

It feels delightful to earn a good grade in a hard class. And it’s not something I have much experience in with college so far. Sure, I’ve gotten good grades. And I’ve taken hard classes. But the two together? That’s when it gets serious, folks. For some reason I made the decision to work hard in my Christian Moral Life class and guess what? It worked. I did well in the class, learned SO MUCH, and can confidently say: you get what you give.

Ya’ll need to lighten up.

Life is just better when you stop and smell the alfalfa, folks! It’s the moments when you stay up until 2am just talking because you can. Or jamming sessions on the way to Walmart. Or cooking for people. Or walking barefoot on campus when the weather is nice. Or getting to know someone better. These are the moments we treasure, and seriously: who has time to waste on things that don’t matter? It’s nice to consciously recognize this and be thankful for the little things. Who remembers the nights you get enough sleep anyway?

Linking up with Kendra!

1. What’s for dinner?

Tonight it was a “we need to finish all the random food before we leave for the summer” kind of dinner! We made spaghetti with meat sauce and pudding for dessert. Yum! Having non-caf food is quite glorious around here, and I’m looking forward to being home late this week to have “real” food  🙂

2. What’s the last thing you borrowed from someone?

Hmmmm . . . good question. I honestly can’t remember the last time I borrowed something! Well, that’s boring. Maybe a dish sometime to cook.

3. What is your favorite prayer?

Many! Oh, there are so many beautiful prayers. But one of my favorites (which I discovered over spring break) is one Mother Teresa said everyday:

“Dear Jesus,

Help me to spread Your fragrance wherever I go. Flood my soul with Your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly, that my life may only be a radiance of Yours. Shine through me, and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus! Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as You shine, so to shine as to be a light to others. The light, of Jesus, will be all from You; none of it will be mine. It will be you, shining on others through me. Let me thus praise You the way You love best, by shining on those around me. Let me preach You without preaching, not by words but by my example, by the catching force of the sympathetic influence of what I do, the evident fullness of the love my heart bears to You.

Amen.”

4. What is the oldest thing in your house?

In my dorm room, it’s probably old diaries/journals I brought back to read after Christmas. Holy cow, they are quite interesting! They make me cringe sometimes (enter an apparent obsession with musicals), but it’s really neat to see how God’s been working for so many years to help me become who I am today.

5. What’s the best concert you ever attended?

Never having gone to a legit concert, let’s go with “What concert would you like to go to?”! I’d love to go see The Fray or Sugarland, and pretty much any country person. Sign me up!

6. Do you have a nickname?

Family ones, yes, but friends always call me Laura. Sometimes I’m Lala or now Lals or Pancake.

What about you? What are your answers?

I participated in this link up a while ago and then stopped. But when Bek invited me to join . . . I had to! This link up is hosted by: Jen at The Arizona Russums, Nicole at Three 31, Lisa at Coastlined, and Becky at The Java Mama. Here are my answers for the week 🙂

I feel an adrenaline rush when . . . a good song comes on when I exercise, I used to perform in musicals, I’m watching an inspiring video or moment in a movie, or I have to unexpectedly speak in front of people. Someday I want to go zip-lining, and I imagine that I would experience a tad bit of adrenaline with that too 🙂

I feel energized when . . . I get enough sleep, pray, and am organized. Yay for responsibility!

I feel small when . . . standing next to tall people (story of my life as a person who is 5 feet), I’m part of a big crowd (ie. March for Life), or standing near something like the ocean.

I feel big when . . . I’m confident about what I’m doing, or I’m not the shortest one in the room.

I feel indestructible when . . . I’m in the middle of a good workout. This is especially the case when I exercise regularly and get strong and do something I realize I could not have done in the last couple weeks. I’ve gotten a lot stronger in my yoga class this semester and it feels amazing to be able to power through the intense plank – push-up -push-forward – downward-dog – plank – repeat routines.

I feel stupid when . . . I instantly forget a person’s name. Beginning of freshman year all over again! I’m generally good with names, but every so often this still happens.

I feel smart when . . . I know the answer to something a professor asks and no one has raised their hand. Talking more in class is definitely something I’m planning to work on more next year because I have something to say much more often than I actually say it.

Thanks for tagging me, Bek!