Chapter 44
Almost that “S” word
“RELAX”
July-August 2015
“We’re going to be seniors,” I
told my friend, as goosebumps covered my body. I said it again and again.
Eventually he stopped me, and assured me that he understood, and he didn’t want
to be reminded again.
When I began writing this book
three years ago it began as a reflective tool for me as I experienced college.
As I have matured I have found writing to be a great way to assist, motivate,
and inspire future college students. I hope that each chapter has been engaging
and encouraging, as I have felt led to share my stories with someone I haven’t ever
met.
During an interview the other day
I was asked if I had seen a change in myself from freshman year to now (almost
a senior). I wasn’t sure how to answer the question because it was something
that I had never thought about. Throughout my college career, I have always
been on the go, dabbling in so many things, and not really paying much
attention to how much the college experience has benefited my life.
Looking back- I hadn’t traveled
at all, heck I didn’t have a passport, I really didn’t understand how a
business worked, I had the mindset of a small town kid, and had no idea of what
a global market looked like. Change is a big word, but I would say that my
perspective has been broadened, I have learned so many different things, be it
in the classroom and beyond, and I have built an extensive network.
I’m finding it difficult to wrap
up one of the most exciting years of my life (junior year). However, today as I
was at the lake with one of my childhood friends I was reminded that there’s
still a lot to learn in this life.
My friend and his dad were Wake
Surfing (a mix between surfing and wake boarding- you ride the wake that the
boat makes), and after they finished they asked if I wanted to give it a try. I
haven’t shared this, but I am not talented at any sport that involves
balancing- skateboarding, rollerblading, skiing, wakeboarding, etc. But, I figured
why not give this a try- I might be good at this…..
After what seemed like 100 tries
later, I still hadn’t successfully pulled myself out of the water. I must have
had the most discouraged look on my face because my friend’s dad looked at me
and said something that I needed to hear for so many reasons. “Relax, relax.
You can’t do it on your own, let the boat do the work. You’re trying to do it
all on your own.” He didn’t know it, but that was the advice I needed in the
water, as well as out of it. 100 more tries later it seemed, I still didn’t successfully
land the board in the wake, but hey, there’s always another day and another
lake.
Looking back to my senior year in
high school, the feeling of being a senior was much different than it is now. I
couldn’t wait for the year to be over, so I could start fresh in a college
somewhere. However, when the year ended and the dust settled, I realized how blessed
I was to be at that place in my life.
Now, as my senior year of college
is days away from beginning, I’m anxious, scared, and motivated to make this
the best year of college. I have so much still to learn, so much left to do,
and so many more times to show off my school pride.
A few goals for my senior year:
1. Become
a better listener
2. Be
patient
3. Get
way too excited- “freshmanesque”
4. Launch
a full operating business (create my own job)
5. Publish
this book J
Quick update on my startup-
Waterless Buddy’s
-
We we’re featured on a local news channel (ABC
11) & USA Today College
-
We we’re accepted into Launch Chapel Hill (accelerator
on campus)
-
We partnered with a local Chick-Fil-A for
another test market
-
People are super excited about us- gaining
interest from FL, CA, and beyond
