Junior Year Takeaways

Spring quarter always flies by with the blooming cherry blossoms, warm sunny days, and plethora of end-of-year events. It's hard to believe that it's already the end of the school year and I only have a year left before I'm all done with school! The last three years have been a whirlwind, but this year in particular, has been a year of self-understanding and growth. Here are some of my takeaways from this past school year:

Time is Precious, Prioritize What's Important to You
In college, there is pressure to do everything and it's become a competition to see who can be the busiest. Though, it's important to not spread yourself too thin. During the first two years of college it's great to try different clubs, meet new people, and discover your passions. Though, junior year is the time to reflect, find where you fit, and understand where you want to focus your time. Avoid feeling burnt out by letting go of things that aren't important to you anymore and spend the extra time by putting 110% of effort into a few of the things you are passionate about. 

Meet New People
When you're an upperclassman, it's easy to stick with the same group of people you navigated your younger years with and you start to have classes with the same few people. Though, it's important to branch out and constantly meet new people whether it's going to more events around campus or going to networking events around the city. By grabbing a quick coffee, you can learn so much from another person and who doesn't love making new friends? I know it can be difficult to put yourself out there, but there are so many inspiring people in the world to meet. 

Work Hard & Trust the Process
It's easy to feel discouraged when things don't go as planned, but keep pushing and trust the process. This is definitely something that is easier said than done, but train the muscles in your brain to have a more optimistic perspective and be resilient. Think about where you are today and all your accomplishments. You wouldn't be where you are without all the failures and rejections in between. I'm grateful for all the failures I've gone through because it has only made me stronger and pushed me to do things I never thought I was able to do. 

And that's a wrap for junior year! I'm looking forward to summer adventures and my last year of college. What are some of your takeaways from this past school year? 

xo Kerstin