1st Year Hardships and Lessons Leant
By Jermyn Voon
As I sit down and reflect on the approaching 1st year of being out of high school and attending college, I am still in awe that I have made it this far. It seems like at this time of year last year, I was in high school trying to deal with all pressure in preparing for diploma exams and better yet looking forward to being finally done high school. It’s seems like it was so long ago but the truth is that it wasn’t. It was only one year ago. It’s interesting to look back and see the changes that have occurred. For me I must say is it not really the physical change but one of mental or the mind. During the 1st year, I have learned so much about who I am as a person and individual that all of high school should have taught me. I also have learned about other people as well. It is interesting to think about all of the things that mean so much more and the perspectives on life, relationships, and friendships and of people in general that college/university teaches and shows you in your 1st year. The things that seemed like a big deal are nothing now and the things that seemed like too small or distant to deal with are now important.
One thing that I keep coming back to is the one of life. It seems like life is confusing and uncertain. Life seems like going on a train trip, a trip that goes on and on and never stops or looks back. It’s seems like you meet people everyday, and sometimes you never see them or talk to them again. It seems like everyone is here for their own reasons and sometimes unless you agree with them or are here for the same reason, you are sometimes feel like you’re alone and isolated. I guess this is the time where you faith and spirit are tested and it is up to you to figure out how or what you will do to deal with it. At times during your life, you feel like you are fighting an uphill battle. Every time you try and climb the hill, there is always someone or something trying to make you quit and give up. For me I have experienced this numerous times, and fortunately enough I have made it to the end. Here is one example:
Well, over the weekend, I had an experience that hurts me inside. My brother, my dad and his “wife” got into a fight of having salad for lunch. I think that is the craziest thing I have ever heard of in my life. What started as a small fight soon grew into a bigger and more heated fight, people hurting each others feelings and stepping on each others toes. Why? So, what if people give you a bad look, isn’t that normal? Why start a fight over something small like that? Is it really worth it? What is going on with today’s society? One thing, it made me realize how some people are so unreal and some people don’t have a backbone in their entire body. Wow! GROW UP BUDDY!!!!! Learn how to deal with it; don’t run to someone else, in this case my dad, to solve your problems. How did you do anything in your life, if you can’t handle this small yet tiny issue? Come on! Some people are saying, not to judge or be to hash on her but I have no reason not to. It has been going on for awhile now and it is starting to become rather ridiculous. Come on! It is time to face the truth and the facts. My dad and she are part of the problem, not us!
Wow, I know everyone is wondering why I am being so hard on myself or why I am not parting it up or enjoying it. Well, the true be told I am enjoying it but I am definitely not parting it up or being too hard on myself. The question is that the way that I want to live my life. Life is one that a person defines for their selves. No one can create or make the life that you are or want to live. It’s up to you! It is up to find hope in the times where it seems like you are alone and isolated from everyone else. Then why do people like me go through times like this? Well, I hear that is it not uncommon. It happens a lot to people going through this journey let alone, people who are working and earning money. I think that is a test of strength. It is said that in the mist of hardship, isolation and loneness, you find out who you are and what you are supposed to do with your life.
I notice that making it far in this life is one that is not only one of physical endurance but one of also mental endurance as well. After talking with my pastor on Sunday, he made me realize the importance of the mind. Our mental state plays a critical part of our attitude and well-being. We can only achieve so much without the whole body working together to achieve that one goal or dream. We need to have our entire body, in order to achieve great things in this journey called life. A lot of the struggle we have is with our mind. Our mind makes us happy and makes us sad. We need to keep focused on what is important and what we want to achieve. It’s important not to lose sight on that and what is important. It’s those things that keep us going and going when things don’t go right or when it seems like you are fighting an uphill battle. Just as people say “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” May this be a lesson for all of us to continue fight on when there seems to be no ending in sight?
“Be determined to handle any challenge in a way that will make you grow.”
- Les Brown
