Being Thankful (A Week Late)
Well, the second round of midterms are over and so I finally have sometime to catch my breath. Thanksgiving break was really nice, but since I spent Thursday and Friday ignoring school to spend time with my family, Saturday was kind of awful. I did get to spend a lot of time with Rachel and we had the Keifers over for an early dinner on Sunday, so I'm really grateful for that.
Thanksgiving is really a weird time because for a couple days, all of a sudden everyone on social media is really introspective and actually takes time to appreciate the great things in life. Then, 48 hours later, most of them are back to complaining about school and politics and making a huge deal about things that really don't matter. I'm as guilty as everyone. I meant to take time over the weekend to sit down and write a really nice fluffy post, but as soon as I opened a textbook, I got sucked into the "woe is me, I have so much work to do" mood again and I lay in bed worrying about my grades at least twice.
I'm trying to teach myself to be thankful when it seems like the world is falling apart and this post is the beginning of that. I was a ball of stress on Monday (once again), because I was anticipating test grades for my two most important classes (they ended up being fine :D ). I got to a point where I thought "I guess this will be my permanent state of mind for the next three weeks" I've been better in the past 24 hours, but I'm anticipating several more moments like that before finals.
Anyway, here are some of the many things I'm trying to be more grateful for:
1. Parents who are incredibly supportive of anything that I'm doing. I put so much pressure on myself to get A's that I need people that I respect to step in and say that it's okay to get a B. I remember being so terrified to tell my mom that I wasn't doing great in English last semester, but she was really gracious about it. I'm also glad that my parents push me to excel when they know I can. I know that no matter what happens, they have my back and that as long as I do my best, they'll be proud of me.
2. My siblings: They're ridiculous, but I love them anyway. Here's to many more dinner table arguments and rambunctious card games.
3. A support system that got me through 12 years of homeschooling. Friends from home, even if we don't talk, thank you for all the memories! I've learned so much from so many of you.
4. A friend group at college who appreciates me for who I am. I've been able to come out of my shell so much at school and that's most because I have friends who understand the way I think and appreciate how weird I am. You guys know who you are ;) and I am so grateful for all of you because you have helped me become a better person.
5. A chance to study math and computer science. Although through all the stress I don't often realize this, I am incredibly lucky to be doing what I'm doing and to I have a mind that is healthy enough to do this things that I enjoy the most. I'm also lucky enough to have a great scholarship and to be able to continue in school without worrying about the financial burden it's putting on my family. I know that not everyone has that chance and therefore I realize how blessed I am.
6. Two great Christian fellowships on campus. Stepping into a leadership position at Catholic Retrievers this year has been awesome and I've made so many great friends in Christ during Wednesdays and Sundays together. It's really been amazing watching this ministry grow and getting to know the new students. I'm also incredibly thankful for my Intervarsity friends, who have welcomed me with open arms this semester and are one of the reasons Thursdays are my favorite days of the week.
7. I have a great position as a TA, awesome TA friends and an incredible boss. Getting to know Dr. Gibson better and not in a teacher/student relationship has been so much fun and she is such a gracious boss. I really hope I can come back to TAing next semester. I've also met so many cool people by spending so much time in 240 this semester and having meetings and what not with my fellow TAs, who are all great people. It's been such a joy working with them (especially my crazy Thursday @ 1:15 meeting group :D ) and because of being a TA I now feel so much more connected to the CS department as a whole.
I'm sure there are other things that I am forgetting but I am just so thankful to God for all of the blessings that he has given me over the past semester. I know that it will take sometime to perhaps adjust my new attitude of being thankful and not stressed out all of the time but I hoping that it will have a positive impact on my life. I hope that if you are reading this you can try to make thankfulness a part of your life because I think that it's worth.
Until next time.
Thanksgiving is really a weird time because for a couple days, all of a sudden everyone on social media is really introspective and actually takes time to appreciate the great things in life. Then, 48 hours later, most of them are back to complaining about school and politics and making a huge deal about things that really don't matter. I'm as guilty as everyone. I meant to take time over the weekend to sit down and write a really nice fluffy post, but as soon as I opened a textbook, I got sucked into the "woe is me, I have so much work to do" mood again and I lay in bed worrying about my grades at least twice.
I'm trying to teach myself to be thankful when it seems like the world is falling apart and this post is the beginning of that. I was a ball of stress on Monday (once again), because I was anticipating test grades for my two most important classes (they ended up being fine :D ). I got to a point where I thought "I guess this will be my permanent state of mind for the next three weeks" I've been better in the past 24 hours, but I'm anticipating several more moments like that before finals.
Anyway, here are some of the many things I'm trying to be more grateful for:
1. Parents who are incredibly supportive of anything that I'm doing. I put so much pressure on myself to get A's that I need people that I respect to step in and say that it's okay to get a B. I remember being so terrified to tell my mom that I wasn't doing great in English last semester, but she was really gracious about it. I'm also glad that my parents push me to excel when they know I can. I know that no matter what happens, they have my back and that as long as I do my best, they'll be proud of me.
2. My siblings: They're ridiculous, but I love them anyway. Here's to many more dinner table arguments and rambunctious card games.
3. A support system that got me through 12 years of homeschooling. Friends from home, even if we don't talk, thank you for all the memories! I've learned so much from so many of you.
4. A friend group at college who appreciates me for who I am. I've been able to come out of my shell so much at school and that's most because I have friends who understand the way I think and appreciate how weird I am. You guys know who you are ;) and I am so grateful for all of you because you have helped me become a better person.
5. A chance to study math and computer science. Although through all the stress I don't often realize this, I am incredibly lucky to be doing what I'm doing and to I have a mind that is healthy enough to do this things that I enjoy the most. I'm also lucky enough to have a great scholarship and to be able to continue in school without worrying about the financial burden it's putting on my family. I know that not everyone has that chance and therefore I realize how blessed I am.
6. Two great Christian fellowships on campus. Stepping into a leadership position at Catholic Retrievers this year has been awesome and I've made so many great friends in Christ during Wednesdays and Sundays together. It's really been amazing watching this ministry grow and getting to know the new students. I'm also incredibly thankful for my Intervarsity friends, who have welcomed me with open arms this semester and are one of the reasons Thursdays are my favorite days of the week.
7. I have a great position as a TA, awesome TA friends and an incredible boss. Getting to know Dr. Gibson better and not in a teacher/student relationship has been so much fun and she is such a gracious boss. I really hope I can come back to TAing next semester. I've also met so many cool people by spending so much time in 240 this semester and having meetings and what not with my fellow TAs, who are all great people. It's been such a joy working with them (especially my crazy Thursday @ 1:15 meeting group :D ) and because of being a TA I now feel so much more connected to the CS department as a whole.
I'm sure there are other things that I am forgetting but I am just so thankful to God for all of the blessings that he has given me over the past semester. I know that it will take sometime to perhaps adjust my new attitude of being thankful and not stressed out all of the time but I hoping that it will have a positive impact on my life. I hope that if you are reading this you can try to make thankfulness a part of your life because I think that it's worth.
Until next time.
Comments
Post a Comment