First semester of junior year is finally over, and it was, of course, accompanied by its many ups and downs. However, that’s all behind me. Right now the focus for me and for everyone should be on relaxation, and we can now reflect on everything that was accomplished over the last few months. Personally, I haven’t worked this hard in a really long time. I pushed myself to a whole new level. I worked three different jobs, wrote for Step Up Magazine, lead a freshman retreat, and spent all of my free time studying. My goal for this semester was to get serious about my future and to really buckle down, build my resume, and get good grades. I’m really proud to say that I think I achieved those goals for this semester, and I believe those results will carry over into the next semester.

It’s important for everyone to take a moment at the end of the semester to reflect on everything that was accomplished. It’s not the time to dwell on the final that you crammed for last minute, or regret not spending more time doing this and that. It’s time to reward yourself. Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you’re proud of everything you’ve accomplished. As much as high school tries to prepare you for college, the reality is that you’re never fully prepared. College is fun, but it can also become a very stressful environment sometimes… especially during finals. You made it. You’ve finished another semester.

I don’t think people take enough time to focus on the good that’s happening, whether that’s in the world or just in their lives. I certainly talk myself down at times. What I don’t realize is that if I put my mind to something, I can accomplish anything. You shouldn’t hold yourself back, and part of that means taking the time to relax and give yourself a break. Humans aren’t meant to be on the go all the time, and we wouldn’t survive if we worked hard all the time. Taking time for yourself to do things that you want to do will make you happier. Happiness is something that you should never compromise for a test grade because happiness is something that can last a lifetime. Nobody is going to care twenty years from now if you didn’t do so well on one test. It doesn’t matter what happened this past semester, it’s time to let it go and move forward.