jess in the mundane

In the final installment to this series, here is a bit of advice for current and incoming university students. Everyone’s university experience will be different, but if and when you can, enjoy it, because it goes by in a flash.

An iron clad will:
Let me let you in on a secret. I believe the people that do great things in life are those that simply dare. Those that actually have the audacity to think that they can and will do those things. You can take any and everything from a man, and he will not die, but destroy his will, his drive, his hope, and you have killed him. University will stress you and put you out of your comfort zone. It may even test your limits and make you doubt your abilities and competencies. But you must never let anything, or anyone rip out your will. This is what makes you already see the destination before you get there.

I had a habit of subconsciously imagining what graduation day would be like. Getting a medal for academic achievement, taking pictures with my friends and family, throwing my cap up in the air HSM style. I did it for fun, but realize now, that was part of my motivation. I really did know that I would graduate, and graduate well. Anytime an obstacle came up that would attempt to make that grad day impossible, I would reach deep down into the source of the will and draw strength from it.

I also got a lot of drive from my friends and classmates. Whenever I felt not up to the challenge, I’d look at them and see how hard they were working, and that would make me believe that if they could do it, then I could. Surround yourself with organic friends that are go-getters, and they will rub off on you. When your fire is running low, they will stoke it, and when theirs is running low, you will fuel it.

A seasonal bridge:
The institutionalized learning phase of our lives is just a chapter. It will come and it will go one day. As with everything else in life, it’s a bridge that we must get to and cross. And it’s one that is best crossed with company, with the help of others. Be it helpful faculty and lecturers, or classmates and friends, the bridge of university is extremely hard to cross unaided. So, don’t be ashamed to ask for help. And don’t be proud not to receive help when it is offered. Use every resource at your disposal to make sure that you cross that bridge safely and smoothly. With every step the bridge will appear less and less intimidating, until you get to the other side and won’t even remember what the fuss was about.

It will be okay in the end:
There’s this soothing quote I remember from my uni days. “It will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, then it’s not the end”. Looking back at the seemingly horrible disappointments I have had while in school; the failures, the anxiety, I realize that they were necessary to get to where I am today. I had a lot of childish habits that I absolutely needed to drop, and those challenges helped me build helpful disciplines that I use even now. Remember, don’t blow things out of proportion. When things don’t exactly go your way, it’s not the end of the world. Keep your cool, go and eat, sleep, wake up and re-strategize.

Finally, I believe in the sovereignty of God, and that He works everything out for the good and for His glory. I also believe in His undeserved mercy and grace because it is strikingly evident in my life. Whatever happens is not coincidence, it is part of the story that He is writing. I am sure that the reason God allowed me to miss the entrance exams for CU was because I needed to go to BU. He had great plans for me then, and he has great plans for you too. So, again, don’t worry, it will be okay in the end. Because if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.

Stay safe, and groovy.

Love,

Jess ❤