Moving Back to SchoolAfter an awesome and eventful summer, it’s bittersweet to be going back to school for the start of my Junior year in college.
After an awesome and eventful summer, it’s bittersweet to be going back to school for the start of my Junior year in college.
If I look back on my past 6 months (or even longer to the past two years), I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that have been luckily passed my way. I recognize that on top of luck, I have many distinct advantages unique to my socioeconomic status that grant me a privilege to attend school.
But more than that, I am grateful for the people who have pushed me to be better. The ones who have called me out. Who have disagreed with me. Challenged my opinion. Shaped my moral authority.
Those people have truly accelerated my career.
Learning to ask yourself hard questions is a long and forever evolving process. It starts with being honest with yourself (which can be surprisingly challenging.
More often, it is the people around you who are prompting you to start thinking about yourself, what you want to do, and who you want to be. Luckily, I have had access to great people (both at school, online, and at home (all in different ways)).
Whenever I come back to school, I generally get a bit sad. I like being home. I like family. I like my friends there (a lot). I like comfort. I like the quiet.
But then I remember the importance of discomfort to growth.
I remember that exposing myself to unique and perhaps more challenging circumstances is the best way I know how to learn faster, grow more, and better understand myself.
So yes, I am ready. Junior year. What is in store?
I generally do not future plan too much. Rather, just trying to make the most of the present. Today, tomorrow — going to be awesome days.
Originally published at gonen.blog.
By jordangonen on August 26, 2017.
Exported from Medium on February 17, 2018.