Today is the day.
I found it fitting to post my first blog on a day that means so much to me.
Please spend some time thinking about how absolutely, and uncontrollably, you love someone, and cherish those feelings. They will last forever. Buildings will fall. People will come and go. Love is eternal. Don't ever forget that.

I will discuss in this blog, something that I have learned over the past few weeks.

When I was a child, you could compare me to the annoying, introverted personality of Hermoine Granger from every Honors student's favorite series, Harry Potter. I did not care about what I was learning, nor did I want to, but I did very well because I worked harder than any 9 year old you will ever meet. I studied because that is what I was taught, I did well on tests because that is what was expected of me. I pushed myself to be a better person, but not for the correct reasons. As I aged, I was adament that there was no other way to live, but to study, and succeed in academics. Yes, I was involved in other things: dance team, studio dance, volleyball, basketball, clubs, etc. However, none of these extracurricular activities convinced me that I was meant to do anything other than succeed in school and be the smart kid. Throughout the years, I have met people who have scraped the surface of my one track mind, but I never gave in. From senior year, until now, I have seen people who have changed my life in ways that teachers, parents, even best friends couldn't. It almost has to come from a completely unexpected person to make it an effective transition. Many individuals here at TCU have shown me that school is important, yes, but so is just about everything else. In the last couple weeks, I have seen individuals that have shown me to love literally everything I see.

Do not take a day for granted.
Don't study until you're so stressed you cannot eat.
Be persistent, but happy.
Work hard, play hard.
Take a second to enjoy the little things, when the big things seem to big to enjoy.

The other day, I stopped and looked outside for thirty minutes, completely in awe of how beautiful it was. I couldn't look at my book because at that moment, I was completely entranced with the beauty of the simple things in life. Though it may sound exquisitely ridiculous, I felt more happiness and joy in that moment, looking at some trees and grass, that I have ever felt studying. Yes, to get somewhere you want to go in life, studying is a necessary enemy, but you need to take a break. I find myself constantly forcing myself to stop, do something so entirely worthless that it shouldn't even be considered a "thing", and not think about anything else at that moment, and for some time after that.

Overall, if I were to inform you (random anonymous person, who probably doesn't care about this) of one thing to take with you from this blog......STOP, AND SMELL THE ROSES.

Cliche, yes....important, absolutely.

Don't get bogged down in something that seems so important at the time, but in the long scheme of things, really isn't. Do something stupid, do something wrong, mess up, get better, improve your life every day, and don't forget to love who you are and what you stand for.