Do you ever think back to who you were a year ago and think, “Wow, I’m a completely different person”? Given that we are approaching the end of the school year, I’ve started doing what’s quickly become tradition after my first year of university. I’ve started to reflect on the past year.
Every year before school starts, I mentally make a list, sort of like a New Year’s resolution but for school. My list looked a lot like this (warning: it’s pretty cheesy):
- Don’t procrastinate (fails every time)
- Be more involved
- Write more
- Be more confident
Unlike my other years, I actually followed through on most of the things on the list this time. I’m not going to lie; I’ve procrastinated a few times… but who hasn’t? I’m more confident now. I’m able to talk in classes without being shy. I’ve learned how to speak in front of large groups of people without having my heart try to hammer its way out of my chest.
Everyone always says something along the lines of, “This year is the year, where everything will change.” This was my year. But as I think about it, if I didn’t make that initiative to change, this wouldn’t have been the year for me. What the act of reflecting on the last year has taught me is that if you want to change, or have something in your life change, to make this year and many years to come great, you can’t wait around expecting a miracle to fall into your lap. You need to take initiative yourself.
So take the time you have at the end of yet another school year and look back and reflect. Do you like where you are now? I sure hope so! If not, know that you can still change that. As the wise Albus Dumbledore once said, “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”
