Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead

On to the next chapter of my life.

I’ve always been a huge ‘goals’ girl. Maybe it’s the many organizations I’ve been a part of, or the way I like things written down and permanent, but I have found immense importance in goal-making. This past year, before the school year started, I seriously thought through my goals and wrote them down on sticky notes to hang above my mirror, so I could be reminded of what I’m working for every day.

Since my time for these goals has come to an end, I think it’s important to look back and evaluate my goals. Not just looking at if I accomplished my goals or not, but also what I learned about myself in working towards these goals. Often times the lessons learned during the journey are a lot more valuable than the goals themselves.

1. Get the Chancellor’s Scholarship at TCU.

The Chancellor’s Scholarship is essentially a merit-based full ride to TCU. I had my eye on this scholarship the entire year. I knew I had the credentials, but I also had to interview and compete with other great students. The day I received my financial aid letter from TCU, I anxiously tore it open to read that I had received the Dean’s Scholarship, the second best scholarship, behind the Chancellor’s. I cried. I CRIED. I am such a psychopath. My dad came home to me crying about getting TCU’s second best scholarship. He very kindly told me how proud my parents were of me (probably while thinking about how much of a psychopath his daughter is). Through this ridiculous breakdown, I realized a couple of things. First off, my hard work and intelligence is totally not measured by a scholarship I do or don’t receive. Secondly, I should be so proud of myself. I worked my butt off in high school. People classified me as a ‘smart girl’, and while incredibly flattering, it’s not super accurate. I think few people understood how much hard work, and time with teachers, and studying went into making me into a ‘smart girl’. So, no I did not receive the Chancellor’s Scholarship, but I was blessed with four great years of learning and working hard that prepared me for more years of learning and working hard.

1. Get all As both semester.

I am incredibly proud to say that I did accomplish this goal. It was not easy. At all. Second semester, while most of my friends went to school late, and left early, I was at school every day at 7 am, taking 5 AP classes, and staying after for help. I had to work my a** off. I had to study, like really, actually study, and ask for help, which, if you know me at all, is incredibly difficult for me to do. It was hard, but I am so proud of myself and all the knowledge I gained this semester.

1. Do devotional every day.

This was a lofty goal, and I was dumb to think that my schedule would allow me to do Bible study every single day. My time spent in Scripture fluctuated greatly throughout the year. There would be two months straight where I would do devotional every day and then a month would pass where I hadn’t touched my Bible.

Obviously, it’s great to spend time in God’s word every day. But this year I learned that devo should not be treated as a task to cross off your check list, which, unfortunately, sometimes it was for me. I learned that when it comes to time with Jesus, it is so quality over quantity.

That being said, I also learned that you make time for what’s important. As I head into a new chapter of my life, I never want to be stretched so thin that days go by without talking to Jesus and spending time in His word.

1. Build up others in Student Council. Delegate.

This is going to come as a huge shock to absolutely no one, but I love being in control. I am someone who would rather do everything herself. Last year I was the Secretary in Stuco, and took on an incredible amount of responsibility, both in and out of Stuco. And, shocker, I couldn’t do it all myself!!!!!

I am really proud with my senior you in Stuco. Sure, I had moments where I slipped back into my old self, taking on every task myself, but overall I really invested in others’ leadership, because I knew how much I had been invested in the past. I really let others shine in Stuco, because I knew that it wasn’t my turn anymore. I asked others to lead, I encouraged others to step up, I helped out my amazing peers.

1. Make Company Rep and Ballet at my studio.

The summer before school started, I was just about heartbroken to learn that most of my friends had moved up a level in dance classes, and I wouldn’t be dancing with my best friends my senior year. It was hard, and left me doubting my dancing abilities. I am so thankful for my studio, and my studio owners, and my teacher, Aly, who listened to me and encouraged me through that difficult situation. I made it my goal to make Company Rep and Ballet at semester.

I am so blessed to have been asked to join Company Ballet at semester, and it was so humbling to dance with that group in my spring recital. While I only achieved ‘half’ of my goal, I am so sure that God was at work in my life in what I thought was a disappointment. While it would have been great to be dancing in Company Rep, I know I was supposed to be in the class I was and in the piece I was for a reason. The girls I met in those classes gave me some amazing, supportive, fun friendships I didn’t have a year ago. I was able to dance so comfortably and vulnerably because of the environment those girls created. I was able to help my best friend, Sophia, adjust to her new studio/home, and dance with her in a whole new way. I was able to cry in class almost every Thursday without judgement. I was able to grow close with my dance teacher, Kate, who changed my life far beyond my dance career.

1. Love the crap out of Sydney.

My bestie, Syd, doesn’t know this, but I made it my goal to love and invest in her the way she had/has for me. The way Sydney loves me and supports me is absolutely amazing and humbling. I am so lucky to have a friend like her. Sometimes I am not the best friend, and this past year I wanted to be a better friend to her. I hope I was.

1. Drink caffeine only on weekends and late nights.

Yeah, this totally didn’t happen and I don’t know why I thought this was an attainable goal.

So, overall, my 2015-2016 girls, while all not technically “achieved” were a success that taught me more about myself than I thought possible.

Now, I’ve thought and prayed over new goals. They look different than last year’s, but I’m excited to see what they bring.

1. Be present and genuine.

These two characteristics have really hit home for me these past couple months when it comes to the type of person I want to be. I hope to cultivate these two traits over the course of the year.

1. Do devotional every day.

While this is the exact same goal as last year’s, I think it’s important. I wanna spend time in God’s word, and I have new found control over my schedule that I can make sure I carve out time for Jesus every day.

1. Be healthier.

Originally, my goal was to workout 5-6 days per week. And while this is still a goal, I really want to focus on being healthy. I don’t wanna focus on weight. I want to focus on how I feel. Since I’ve stopped dancing 2-3 hours every night, I have to figure out new ways to work out and stay healthy. It’s going to be a learning experience, but I’m excited.

1. Do my best in school.

I have no idea how hard college is going to be. I don’t want to give myself a quantitative goal for success right now, but rather just focus on genuinely learning, and doing my best.

1. Don’t put too much pressure on myself.

I am lowkey an absolute psychopath who expects perfection of myself. This is stupid because I am not perfect, and never will be!!! Because Jesus is!!!! This year, I don’t want to seek perfection, and I don’t want to place an unhealthy amount of pressure on myself, in all areas of my life. I am allowed to mess up. I am allowed to fail.

1. Love others and be loved, and seek the opportunities to do so.

This goal is really important to me. Every day I realize I am placed on this earth to just love others. I have already had so many new opportunities to love on others, and to be loved. It’s up to me to take advantage of them.

1. Be on fire for Jesus.

This one speaks for itself. I want to love Jesus with reckless abandon. I want my life to scream his name. I want to acknowledge my shortcomings and imperfections, and point my whole life to Jesus. I am so broken but I’m saved by an amazing savior, and I want every part of my life to point to that.

So those are my 2016-2017 goals. They are exciting and frightening and motivating. I’d appreciate so much prayer and support as I begin this new chapter of my life, with some new goals in mind.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. // Jeremiah 29:11

#TCU #excitement #September2016 #college #lessonslearned