Every year when school's about to close for the summer, I literally get so sad, even though I love summer as much (if not more) than anyone. It's funny though. I get to the end of winter, and I'm sad because there's no skiing, no snow days, no snowmen lining the yards of the neighbors. I get to the end of summer, and it's back to school, back to long nights and long classes, but I get to see my friends. I get to the end of fall, and its bittersweet because the snow comes down and we all freeze, but I get to ski and Christmas comes around… Life is bittersweet. Every up is going to be followed and preceded by a down. Some are worse or better than others. We all fail. We all fall. Yeah, I know I say that a lot. But, at the same time, we all have our moments, our little (or massive) victories. And we can all sit and bask in the glory of those. Of the little things. The snacks we have with our friends. The conversations that bring smiles to our face. The runs that leave you feeling absolutely defeated, but oh, so accomplished.
Every day is going to be a challenge, even if you've been waiting on it your entire life. Don't expect it not to be. There's no such thing as perfection, because if there was perfection, nothing would be worth living out at all. But, we can get pretty darn close.
I've been telling myself for the last day, and in reality, the last several months, that I have grown up so much in the last few years. I came out of my shy, timid phase. I grew up when I thought I might forever be a child. I set goals and achieved them--- most of the time. I made friendships and I backed my friends up, and sometimes I wasn't there when I should have been. But, like I've said a thousand times, we all try and we've all failed and fallen. We've all fought and been knocked down, but it doesn't matter, because someday there will be a moment where you'll open your eyes and look around and all will be worth it. Every moment where you doubted yourself, every relationship that didn't work out, every attempt at a task that you didn't follow through with, will be worth it.
This summer is going to be amazing. I will travel and see and do things I never thought I would. I will work and slowly teach my leg muscles how to work together again, on a run, on a bike. I will make memories with family and friends. I would not trade any moment in my life for anything. Not the failures. Not the moments I'm not proud of. Not the challenges and definitely not the blessings.
So for today, I blast music in my ears as I go over a final paper and get ready to beast out finals week. It hasn't been an easy road, but it isn't for anybody. We've all struggled. We've all lost people we love. I know there are people I wish could be here today and throughout the next few years to watch me become a Marine Officer. I know I'm not the only one. We've all disappointed ourselves and others, and watched our dreams seem to disappear a little, hanging out just at the edge of our fingertips, but in the end, those things molded us into who we are today… Those people pushed us to discover who we wanted to be and what dreams we were going to chase.
So now, I'm going to go over my final history paper, crank out some Navigation assignments (theoretically the last time I'll be doing ocean navigation… Land Nav here we come!), and get ready for a strong last week before I go on an epic trip.
Semper Fidelis!
Thanks for reading,
Sarah
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