Lessons to learn in a lifetime

Photo credit: Internet photo

Miranda Wilcox

OPINION—Things will change in the next few weeks. Finals are on us and summer is almost here with the promise of snow cones and relaxing vacations by the beach. My summer is going to blur together between working a summer job and studying abroad overseas. As the school year draws to a close, I find myself with time to reflect on the significance of 2011 and 2012.

I am an incredibly blessed individual. I have been given amazing opportunities and experiences through the lesson I’ve learned in college and out of it. I don’t regret a single one of them. I made new friends, started new jobs, tried new foods and learned new things about myself. I hope you have learned something about yourselves as well, and grown from the experiences.

For instance, you’re never too old or too cool to sit on your daddy’s lap. It’s something a girl should never outgrow. Also, don’t underestimate the advice you receive from your mother—she actually does know more about this crazy thing called life than you do.

Who you are now is not who you will be in a few years. Time has a way of changing things, and with it, people. You’ll find you might not have the same sense of humor, or you won’t like things you used to love. That’s OK. It’s called growing up, and it happens to everybody.

Your friends are also going to change as well. When I was in high school I was sure my friends and I would always be inseparable. However, I learned that distance and time do make relationships harder to hold onto. But maybe you’ll find you’ve outgrown a few of those old friendships anyways.

There’ll come a time when you have to make the decision to actively live out your faith. Your parents won’t always be there to drag you out of bed for church on Sunday. You’re either going to decide to set your alarm on Sundays and make God a part of your life, or you’re not. I can tell you one thing right now, though: life is so much better with God than without Him. It’s not always easier, but I promise you it’s better. The relationship I’ve established with God has molded me into the person I am now, and loving Him has been the best decision I’ve ever made.

Even as all this hits you and impacts your life, don’t forget to smile along the way. Focus on the good and look past the bad, because sometimes those bridges you burn turn into the lights that guide you home. Life is a series of lessons, and they’ll be the most important and beautiful you’ll ever learn.