Here’s a picture that I absolutely love. It’s cute, it’s happy, and it represents the growth mindset that I strive to embody – the belief that my talents and character can be developed continually through hard work, good strategies, and feedback from friends. This past year, this idea helped me to grow up in so many ways, finally addressing my faults, flaws, and insecurities and becoming a little bit better about dealing with them. A year ago, I was the little seed, and with the water and sunshine of good books and even better friends, I took a few steps (however small) towards becoming the woman that I want to be. I grew!
Now, as a second semester senior, I want to shift my focus from the growing to the blossoming. I’ve spent a lot of time working hard, making progress toward my goals, and picturing myself as the little seed. What I haven’t done enough of is realize all the ways that I am blossoming. I’ve built a network of friends, mentors, mentees, organizations, positions, and projects in my time at Penn State, and I want to take some time to recognize and celebrate that. Just as I looked up to seniors when I was an underclassmen, there are many underclassmen who now look up to me in the same way! Although there are still many, many areas where I want to grow and things that I want to learn, I want to take these last few weeks to celebrate all of the ways that I have grown and revel in the beauty of the life I have created for myself here.
In just a few months, I will be a little baby seed once again, adrift in the world and at the bottom of the corporate ladder. So for now, I am trying to savor every day, each moment of senior year, and relish my own blossoming. .
Alayna,
I loved reading your blog post! As a sophomore it is comforting to read about how much you have developed over the course of your time here at Penn State and the progress you have made since you were a “little seed”. I often think about how I will develop myself from now until the end of my senior year. What makes this thought daunting is the unknown of what happens in between, and something I contemplate ofter. Will I reach my goals and achieve everything I had hoped for? Right now, I don’t really know what that is, so its hard to put that into perspective. There is so much time between now and then, and anything could happen, yet it goes by so fast. As you looked up to the senior as an underclassman, I also am looking up to you now. I wish you the best of luck as you explore the world and endless possibilities, as you become a “baby seed” once again.
As one of the underclassman that look up to you, I could not emphasize more the growing and blossoming you have done. I love this post because it serves as a reminder to reflect on the past and enjoy the the present, instead of constantly worrying about the future. The mindset of being goal oriented and forward thinking, while very important and helpful, can sometimes be excessive, especially within our social circles. As you stated, it is important to celebrate all that you have done, and to celebrate the people around you. Please continue to enjoy your senior year, even though it means that you will eventually have to move on to bigger and better things!
Alayna,
I really love and resonate with the message you shared in your blog. I absolutely believe that we have the ability to develop into the person we want to be. To do so I think that we have to surround ourselves with the right people, be willing to work hard, be willing to change, and most importantly, I think that we cannot be afraid to fail. This is something that I have learned since starting college. Failure and making mistakes in classes or in life is completely normal and a part of learning. I know that I still struggle with this. I am pretty hard on myself when I make mistakes, but I have recognized that I don’t have to be and I think that is leading to personal changes and growth. Overall, with patience, time, and effort I hope to be able to reach my goals and become the person I want to be. The story of your growth is inspirational, and I hope that you continue on this beneficial path!
I also appreciate how you ended your blog post. I think that it is very important to live in the moment and appreciate every opportunity and experience we have. I wish you the best of luck as you finish your senior year and begin a new path after college.
Best,
Brigette
Hi Alayna!
I really loved reading this blog post and it brought a smile to my face. So often I get caught up in the stress, pressure, and technicality of each day that I neglect to think about focusing on myself and doing what really makes me happy. Of course, being involved in a lot and challenging myself are two crucial aspects of developing into a stronger and wiser individual, but I also think it’s extremely important to prioritize my own happiness because that’s what will really help me realize what parts of my life are good and what are toxic. As an underclassman I know that I am still developing and growing, and I hope that I can surround myself with the right people and the right opportunities to turn into the flower in that picture 🙂
Thanks for a great post!
Alayana,
This is by far one of the best blog posts I have ever read. I feel that it is important for us to solely be bent on growing, but also to take the time to realize that each and every one of us has come a long way since being first year students to being the individuals that we are today (even the sophmore :)!). It is important for us to reflect on how far we’ve come because this can provide us with the motivation to continue to grow and become the blossoming flower that each and every one of us wants to become!
Thank you!