Be Your Own Cheerleader.

Reading the Thought Catalog is one of my favorite things to do when I am bored, stressed, or simply avoiding homework. An article titled 3 Powerful Reminders For When You Feel Stuck In Life, and it got me thinking about the struggles I have had recently, but more so the thing that I typically struggle with most. What is that, you ask? Making a decision.

Every single day, throughout our lives we have to make decisions. The clothes we wear, what to eat, what to do... The last one is the one that gets to me the most. I can be incredibly indecisive, and if you know me, you know how frustrating it can be.

I like to think that I love being organized and planning things out, but when it comes time to make a decision, I sometimes freeze up. Also, don’t look at my room right now, it’s definitely not clean or organized...

When it came time to start applying to colleges, I froze up. I didn’t know where to begin, I didn’t know what I wanted to major in, let alone what profession I wanted to do after college.

I think there are a few different reasons as to why I freeze up and struggle with making a decision. The biggest reason being that I know that my decisions can greatly affect my life, and I don’t want to make the wrong choice.

Picking which college to go to was a big problem for me. I had lived a pretty small life so far - I lived in the country with hardly any neighbors, my graduating high school class was a mere 97, and I had always been incredibly close to my family. Don’t get me wrong - I knew I was going to college, I planned on it. But deciding which one just about gave me a straight up panic attack!

It’s crazy to think that one small choice can’t change your life,

and knowing how incredibly true that is is what scares me the most.

Case in point:

Had I not attended Rochester Community Technical College during high school for post secondary (PSEOP), I wouldn’t have taken an equine business practices class. Had I not taken that class, I would never have traveled to Texas in 2010 to compete in the American Miniature Horse Association’s World Show. There, I met a boy from the East coast whom I would fall in love with, and would then move over 1,000 miles from home to attend a university through an exchange program, and meet my best friend Livy. Four short years later the same boy would break my heart, making me become a strong, independent woman.

College worked out though. I ended up attending the one university that I applied to, and while I may not like the campus as much as I would like to, I have had plenty of amazing experiences:

I have a graphic design internship that I absolutely LOVE and I am a Resident Assistant, advising 28 freshman girls. I studied at a university on the East coast for a semester, loving every second of it. And this weekend I am leaving for a two week long study abroad experience in Belize!

The smallest details can change your life, and that can be terrifying. But it can also be exhilarating and exciting! I wouldn’t trade my experiences for anything in the world! Our troubles, fears, hurt, hopes, excitement and dreams - that’s what makes us who we are.

To be able to push on and live life, those are the people I admire most. To realize what you want out of life and be willing to do anything for it, that’s what I want. Although it would be incredibly convenient for the 30 year old me to come visit me and tell me what my hopes and dreams truly are, I know that:

A.) Time travel is not a thing yet.

B.) It wouldn’t help me.

We have to learn our lessons on our own, and as much as that sucks, how else are we going to discover our true selves?

Life can hurt, and it can really suck at times,

but we need to be able to pick ourselves up and carry on.

Now, reading the Thought Catalog is one of my favorite things to do when I am bored, stressed, or simply avoiding homework. This article caught my eye, if you are ever feeling down or just stuck in life, read it! It has some great points that I think we all need to be reminded of every now and then.

Be your own cheerleader. Uniforms are optional.