So the first month of summer is slowly winding down. It's my first summer to spend here in Manhattan, and thus far it has been a blast. It's been much slower and much more quiet here than it is during the school year, and honestly, it's been nice.
I've learned quite a bit by moving into my first house. I've learned much more, much quicker than I initially anticipated. It's quite a bit different than living in the fraternity house, and through the first month, I can say that I feel I will enjoy it.
I told myself throughout last year that I wanted one year of my college experience to be different than the previous three—for better or worse. I felt like I owed it to myself to move out of the fraternity and experience a different angle of college.
I jumped out on a limb to come up to Manhattan out of high school, and I feel like I have done that yet again. I certainly made the right choice after high school, and I'm hoping I did it again this summer.
Today, while enrolling students in Kedzie Hall, I had a conversation with a future student's mom, and told her my story about why I chose to come to Manhattan, Kansas out of high school. It's a story I have told numerous people throughout college, as it is not necessarily common to move two states away for college. I told her I just wanted to jump out on a limb and try something new—essentially I wanted to start over.
It's not that I wanted to necessarily leave Dallas. I love where I grew up. But I saw an opportunity, one that I couldn't let slip by. So I took it, and it's been the best decision that I've made in my entire life. I feel like you can't possibly learn more about yourself, than taking a chance, and even if it scares you, to go ahead and take it, and see where life takes you.
For me, and I feel like everyone, college provides one of the best opportunities for someone to take a chance, and learn about themselves.
So that was my story, and after telling her, and it seems like every time I tell it to somebody, it makes even more sense. Maybe it's because after three years here, I can tell more clearly than ever that I made the right choice.
And I think that is why I have enjoyed this enrollment job so much. I get to share my story with new students, and hope that I can help them out just a little bit.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Three down...One to Go
Life moves much too quickly. If only it had a pause button and a remote. A "Life TiVo" would be nice because right now, I need one.
Somehow, I am about to begin my senior year at K-State and it is completely inevitable that it too will end much too quickly.
This summer I accepted a job in Kedzie Hall on campus to help enroll incoming freshmen into the Miller School of Journalism, knowing I would thoroughly enjoy it, and through the first week I have.
It's just funny though to know that just three years ago I too was in the same library about to enroll into my first semester at K-State. It seems to bring as much joy as it does fear. I have found myself several times feeling envious of the students who I am enrolling. What I wouldn't give to be in their position, about to enroll into the best four years I could possibly ask for.
It brings back a vivid memory, again from my first trip to Manhattan with my dad the summer prior to my freshman year. I remember right as we returned home to Dallas, shortly after I told him that I was certain I wanted to go to K-State, that my dad told me that he too was completely envious of myself. He too wanted to return to the four years he spent at K-State.
And now, looking back, I know just how he felt.
But I have one more year to go at K-State, and for that I am extremely grateful. It will be my goal to make the most of it, while at the same time trying to avoid the feelings of anxiety and fear.
I'm truly excited for what life holds beyond college, but for now, it's time to enjoy all college has to offer—one more time.
Somehow, I am about to begin my senior year at K-State and it is completely inevitable that it too will end much too quickly.
This summer I accepted a job in Kedzie Hall on campus to help enroll incoming freshmen into the Miller School of Journalism, knowing I would thoroughly enjoy it, and through the first week I have.
It's just funny though to know that just three years ago I too was in the same library about to enroll into my first semester at K-State. It seems to bring as much joy as it does fear. I have found myself several times feeling envious of the students who I am enrolling. What I wouldn't give to be in their position, about to enroll into the best four years I could possibly ask for.
It brings back a vivid memory, again from my first trip to Manhattan with my dad the summer prior to my freshman year. I remember right as we returned home to Dallas, shortly after I told him that I was certain I wanted to go to K-State, that my dad told me that he too was completely envious of myself. He too wanted to return to the four years he spent at K-State.
And now, looking back, I know just how he felt.
But I have one more year to go at K-State, and for that I am extremely grateful. It will be my goal to make the most of it, while at the same time trying to avoid the feelings of anxiety and fear.
I'm truly excited for what life holds beyond college, but for now, it's time to enjoy all college has to offer—one more time.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Weekend of Reflection
May 1, 2010
Life works in funny ways sometimes. Today, it did just that. I was invited to spend the weekend in Lebo, Kansas at Ben’s sisters house. The plan was to attend the Indy and NASCAR races in Kansas City throughout the weekend and then return home to Manhattan on Sunday. I have grown extremely close to Ben’s family over the course of my three years of college, and I knew it was going to be a fun weekend.
But today, while sitting in the bleachers at the Kansas Speedway, something clicked. I’m still not quite sure what exactly it was, but I realized something. I was gazing out past the track, towards the east, and caught a glimpse of the Kansas City water tower. Yes it was just a water tower, and nothing about the physical structure really intrigued me, but it brought back a vivid memory from over three years ago.
It was that very same water tower three years ago that my dad and I made our first trip out to Manhattan. I remember driving with him as we were leaving the airport, still not extremely sure why I was even in Kansas City to begin with. Yes, I wanted to see K-State, but I remember clearly thinking during that drive that I honestly didn’t want to really go to school here in Kansas. I remember thinking that I really only wanted to go on the trip to spend some time with my dad. That water tower and the Kansas Speedway in the background is one of the most clear and vivid memories I have of our initial drive to Manhattan.
It was incredible to sit in the bleachers of the Kansas Speedway today and think back to that initial trip to Manhattan. To think that as we drove past the speedway, that I had no plans to attend Kansas State University. It is equally as incredible to think that I was sitting there with some of the most wonderful friends I have made in my life. Friends that I would never have made if my dad and I had not made a trip to Kansas City three years earlier.
Life works in funny, but absolutely incredible ways.
I feel lucky. Why did my dad and I make that trip three years ago? Why did I agree? Looking back, it was in no way my idea to make the trip. I was set. I had made my college choice, and in no way at all did I see my self going to school in Kansas, much less succeeding and falling in love with the school and the people.
Therefore, in no other way can I describe my feelings other than blessed. My life is so incredibly blessed, and every time I try to grab the reins by myself and control the outcome I realize that fate will guide my life itself.
Life works in funny ways sometimes. Today, it did just that. I was invited to spend the weekend in Lebo, Kansas at Ben’s sisters house. The plan was to attend the Indy and NASCAR races in Kansas City throughout the weekend and then return home to Manhattan on Sunday. I have grown extremely close to Ben’s family over the course of my three years of college, and I knew it was going to be a fun weekend.
But today, while sitting in the bleachers at the Kansas Speedway, something clicked. I’m still not quite sure what exactly it was, but I realized something. I was gazing out past the track, towards the east, and caught a glimpse of the Kansas City water tower. Yes it was just a water tower, and nothing about the physical structure really intrigued me, but it brought back a vivid memory from over three years ago.
It was that very same water tower three years ago that my dad and I made our first trip out to Manhattan. I remember driving with him as we were leaving the airport, still not extremely sure why I was even in Kansas City to begin with. Yes, I wanted to see K-State, but I remember clearly thinking during that drive that I honestly didn’t want to really go to school here in Kansas. I remember thinking that I really only wanted to go on the trip to spend some time with my dad. That water tower and the Kansas Speedway in the background is one of the most clear and vivid memories I have of our initial drive to Manhattan.
It was incredible to sit in the bleachers of the Kansas Speedway today and think back to that initial trip to Manhattan. To think that as we drove past the speedway, that I had no plans to attend Kansas State University. It is equally as incredible to think that I was sitting there with some of the most wonderful friends I have made in my life. Friends that I would never have made if my dad and I had not made a trip to Kansas City three years earlier.
Life works in funny, but absolutely incredible ways.
I feel lucky. Why did my dad and I make that trip three years ago? Why did I agree? Looking back, it was in no way my idea to make the trip. I was set. I had made my college choice, and in no way at all did I see my self going to school in Kansas, much less succeeding and falling in love with the school and the people.
Therefore, in no other way can I describe my feelings other than blessed. My life is so incredibly blessed, and every time I try to grab the reins by myself and control the outcome I realize that fate will guide my life itself.
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