There come these moments in life when we have to take stock of what’s happening in our lives, and we all need to find a healthy way to achieve balance.
It’s easy to take on too much when we’re scurrying about trying to find our place in the world. College is a time when things can easily get out of control; losing some sense of control is where I’m at right now—one month into this semester of my senior year.
I’ll confess. I’m not the master on finding my center. I’m one of those people who deal with matters as they pile on. It’s part of my nature.
Dealing with problems as they arise is the only way I’ve ever been, and it’s probably what made me a damn good mechanic when I worked at Amway.
College is different. It takes more careful planning. It takes more self-awareness. It takes finding a balance when facing problems.
To the point, my opinion on this matter is that finding your center—that self-awareness—is most important during this time in our lives. It’s not good for anyone to shuffle about Ferris just going through the daily motions.
Find what’s important to you and embrace it. If it’s physical exercise, socializing, spending time with a loved one, building a business or practicing a favorite hobby, make sure you have plenty of time set aside for these things.
Building this esteem is important to finding this balance for ourselves, and taking care of these needs is part of this process of higher achievement.
Like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, this allows for self-actualization and opens the path to achieving greater things while at college.
For me it’s taken on the form of being more open and honest with one person who is truly important to me.
I’ve started to find my center again this semester by opening myself to someone who’s been asking me to.
If you’re reading this and trying to find what’s important to you at Ferris or in your personal life, get involved with a registered student organization (RSO) or in the community. Build a relationship, a car or a business.
My opinion of college isn’t what it was when I started here. Coming already from the professional world when I started, I wanted to get my degree and get the hell out.
Now, I’m happy with what I’ve discovered here.
My new opinion of college is this: take the time to take stock of what’s important, center yourself and find what you’re looking for, not merely what’s continually handed to you on a daily basis.