Life is a balancing act.
During my three years at Murray State, this is a phrase I’ve become comfortable with, whether I welcomed it with open arms or not.
As I’ve rushed through the hallways of Wilson Hall, heading toward a full night of all the surprises and frustrations a college newspaper holds, I’ve been forced to let go of some of the “luxuries” college students have.
I don’t spend full days sleeping in, preparing for the all-nighters to come or hit the bars every night of the weekend. I don’t eat pizza or cheeseburgers whenever I get the chance or prepare excitedly for a week in Panama City, Fla. I don’t practice for All Campus Sing or play intramurals with my sorority sisters.
I spend many of my weekends far from Murray, at banquets, conferences or in Paducah where I can really rest for a while. I spend my nights preparing a newspaper, writing a story or looking for that potential internship opportunity. When I read, it’s my political science homework – it’s Plato, Aristotle and international relations.
Sometimes, I think I’ve missed out on those experiences college students love over the last few years.
But then, I see the woman I’ve become and the future I’ve shaped for myself through tear-jerking work and dedication.
I wouldn’t trade what I have now for anything in the world.
Trading some of the little experiences in college will lead me to Japan at the beginning of summer to spend time at Japanese media outlets with students from Brown, Yale and other highly-regarded universities. This path has also led me to award banquets, where I beam with pride over the work of my colleagues. It’s led me to write for publications I never could have imagined. It’s led me to the stage of Lovett Auditorium, where I will compete for Ms. Murray State University in April.
So even though some experiences may have been lost, I take the time as often as possible, to take a step back and remember I am still in college. I call friends I haven’t seen in too long and we catch up over frozen yogurt or plan a night out in Murray.
To me, both aspects of my life are extremely important. I will never forget the friends I’ve made and the opportunities I’ve earned while at Murray State.
