College Sucks, Until it Doesn't.

“It’s the best time of your life.”
“OH MY GOSH college is so crazy.”

“Don’t worry about a thing, everyone else is in the same boat.”

“It’s all going to fly by.”

If you are in college at some point before heading off to school you have heard some of these lovely words of wisdom. So here we are back at school for another semester and I am reflecting on what I have been told. However, as I spend over 200 dollars on books, attempt to wake up before my 9 o’clock class (I know I complain when people have 8 AMS and I am so sorry), and try to just deal with the cafeteria food, I am unable to find the beauty in this whole “college thing.” I know, I know, Ms. Bitter Betty, but I hope you will hear me out.

When you first to get to college there is so much excitement, so much to discover and so many things to learn (I am on life lesson #756), but it’s all hard. It’s hard knowing who is genuine. It’s hard knowing how that first test is going to be in each of your classes. It’s hard knowing who you are meant to be. So ya, college sucks until it doesn’t. You start off with a whirl wind of emotions, running around trying to be friends with everyone and their mother. But then things calm down and textbooks beat you over the head. You come to discover who will be there for you when you get sick. You come to realize that late night pillow talk is something sacred. You come to realize, that the girls across the hall that you thought were rude, are the sweetest Colorado angels you have ever met. Everything you had worried about worked out as it was meant.

But now I am on my second semester and every time I come back from Texas I count down the days till I get to go back home. Now, no worries, I love it here in Denver, but there is something hopeful about knowing how many days till I get to be reunited with my family and friends, and of course the great state of Texas. I had promised myself this year that I would try my best to take one day at a time, but instead I am jumping ahead 41 days till Spring Break. Maybe it’s because here I get nosebleeds? Or maybe it's because when I walk around I feel like I need an oxygen tank? Whatever the case may be, I need to cut it out.

Here I am, hoping that I can fast-forward my college days and because of this I am missing the point. I am blessed to attend a college where I am cared for not just by my friends but also by my faculty and staff. A college that has some places around campus that look like Howgwarts. A college that offers me a Jesuit viewpoint of cura personalis. I have all this, yet I want to jump into the real world? Maybe it’s because sometimes I feel like have an old soul? Silly? Ya, maybe. However, this old soul still has a lot more heartache to experience and life lessons to learn. I can wish it would goby  faster but my 24 hour days are not going to speed up upon my request. I have hopes, wishes, and dreams but they are going to fall into place when it’s meant, not when I want them to.

Okay, so where do I go from here? Well, I am still going to look forward to going home but I am going to focus more on my blessings around me. Every morning I wake and say the Serenity Prayer:

“God grant me the serenity
     to accept the things I cannot change;
      courage to change the things I can;
     and wisdom to know the difference.”

            This prayer reminds me that you know what, college is what it is but I can also make a difference on how I want my experience to be: happy, fulfilled, content, and inspired. So to all you college students out there let’s try something. Let’s be content with where we are and make the most out of what we have all been given.