It seems inevitable that once I get in a good rhythm of blogging I just fall behind. This time it wasn't necessarily intentional, I've just been generally feeling uninspired. School and a lot of other stuff has seemed to run me dry lately, giving me less and less to feed off of, much less have something worthwhile to offer this blog.
However, today changed the tides for me. I'm in my last week of classes of my freshman year of college before my final exams next week. In a lot of ways, I've given up on this year, promising that when I return next fall I'll be somehow better equipped to handle everything. This combined with some heartbreaking news I received from back home completely blind sided me to consider that one of my professors could say anything that would excite me, about school, about life, about anything really.
I heard from an older girl somewhere along the road of this semester that I was not to miss the last class of this particular professor. I did what I was told, and showed up today with piqued interest about what could be different about this class section.
I was not disappointed. My professor began the class by thanking us for taking this class and giving everyone in the class (40ish students) individuals bags of popcorn to snack on during finals. He then launched into a monologue that was really just about life, and lessons he sincerely wanted us to learn. It moved me so much that I (the notorious cry baby) was holding back tears as a left the room.
Now none of this advice is something that it totally original or earth shattering. It's advice you've heard from parents, teachers, neighbors or friends somewhere down the course of your life. But it was something about the way he spoke that mesmerized my entire class. It was the twinkle in his eye spoke that told me that everything he was saying is true. The way he looked at all of us conveyed his sincerity and the weight that his words carried.
I would now like to share a few things he spoke to us about today. I will not be able to say these lessons as eloquently or with as much passion as my professor did today.
1) Always say thank you to people you love. Never assume that they know how much you appreciate them. After all, tomorrow is promised to no one, so take the extra time to let people know how they've made you better. (He also pointed out the significance and sacredness of a handwritten thank you note)
2) Seize the opportunities life presents you with and don't be a bystander in your life. Actively approach the parade that is life. It's a great spectacle to watch the parade from a safe distance, but to be in the parade is something else entirely.
3) Laugh hard, laugh often, and even laugh at yourself once and a while.
4) I'm going to try and paraphrase this one the best I can. "When you fall in love, it's kind of like getting in to a pool. You can either tip-toe your way in or jump in at the deep end. When you jump off the ledge and into the pool, there's a moment of not knowing. Of not knowing whether the water will be cold or warm, and that moment of not knowing is the most exciting part about life. Falling like that, and not being able to go back is what keeps us alive. You could get in the water and find it terribly cold and your heart will get broken, and that sucks. But I swear it'll happen to you when you jump in and the water's warm and you'll never want to leave. Love hard, with everything you got"
5) The overarching message of his whole speech today was that, its not the things that happen in your life, it's the people you meet along the way. He told us how he can't remember the grades he got on his finals during the spring semester of his freshman year of college. However he did remember the conversations he had with friend over a beer, or watching a 17 inning baseball game before having to say good bye to someone he cared about or what it was like when he met his wife for the first time. It's the people you meet along the way that change you and challenge you, so be open to learning from other people. He said "all of this crap (school, jobs, etc.) boils down to the people that you share it with."
This professor will probably never know how his words touched me today, but I know that when I left class today I was more excited about life. It made me so happy and hopeful that people like my professor exist in the world. People that are seeking to share advice, and to encourage another generation to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. I will absolutely never forget today's lecture.
Where ever my professor is now: thank you thank you thank you. Life just seems so much more beautiful.
To better days,
Emily
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