Friday, November 28, 2014

There's Always Something to be Thankful for.

 This Thanksgiving had me reflecting on some of the hard lessons from this semester that I am grateful for. It's no secret to those that I am close too that this semester has probably been one of the most stressful thus far. I'm pretty sure I've made it out of the woods, and I finally feel comfortable sharing it with you all in hopes that you may see what you can be thankful for within your struggle.

 Last semester I lost the Hope scholarship that the state of Georgia has available to anyone who has and maintains a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Its not that I wasn't smart enough to maintain a B average, I could most definitely could even do better than that. My priorities were mixed up I valued my sorority, social life, and my boyfriend at the time above my grades. Obviously having school coming in third didn't work out for me too well and that D I made in Econ hit me like a ton of bricks. I was so disappointed in myself. I took 2 classes this past summer and made A's, and this semester looks like its going to turn out well too. It's been a lot of work, I no longer have any room to goof off or slide by if I want to be on good academic standing with my sorority, and get the Hope back, which you can only do once. I am thankful that this semester I was forced to learn how  to better manage my time, and that I was able to prove to my parents, and myself again that I am capable of doing well in school.

For the first part of the semester I didn't have a job which I needed to have. I quit my job at Chick-Fil-A over the summer because I was offered a nanny position making 10$ an hour. I went to 2 interviews with the parents and even babysat before being offered the job. Then 2 days before I was to start I received a text message from the mother informing me that they were going to have the mother-in-law watch the child instead. Naturally I was furious because with recruitment and school starting when was I going to find another job. My Mom wanted me to go back to Chick-Fil-A but that was a last resort for me. I got a little bit of money from my parents every week and I applied to everything on Sitter City, finally one day I got a message from a woman who needed me 10 hours a week to help out in her home for 15$ an hour. I became a "Mothers Helper" for a wonderful Christian family who treats me with kindness and respect. I am so thankful that instead of going back to Chick-Fil-A I trusted my instinct that something better would come along.

On top of stressing out about school and my job I was in a very negative living environment for half of the semester. How I was being treated by my roommates in my own apartment was detrimental to my mental health. I ended up deciding to move out which was hard because prior to moving in together I had been friends with these girls. I had thought that moving in together would make us all closer, and that I would love living with my friends. That's not what happened. Letting go of friendships is never easy, but I'm thankful that during that time I learned who my real friends are. I had so much support and I got close to people I may not have had I not been forced to reach out, and expand my circle. 
I am thankful for these life lessons and so many other things this Holiday Season. Remember sometimes when things fall apart they are really just falling together.

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