I was a shy child. I was always trying to go unnoticed by the crowd. I went about my business in the quietest way possible, and wanted to be able to spend time with people I cared about one-on-one. As I got older, I realized that, to make my life what I wanted it to be, I needed to break out of my comfort zone, and emerge from my shell. Throughout high school, I began getting a bit better, but coming to university was a totally different kind of experience. I realized that, if I wanted something here, I was going to have to act on it. No one else is going to help piece together the puzzle that is life. Attending university can be one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, experiences of your life, as long as you are willing to put in the effort.
A lot of this effort comes down to your own willingness to adapt to situations and create changes in your life. To do this, you need to recognize your abilities and realize that you are strong and that you can do whatever you want to do in life. Accepting this mindset can be a difficult challenge to overcome, but once you get there, you’ll realize that you can do anything you put your mind to.
By recognizing that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to, endless possibilities are available to you. It’s a freeing feeling knowing that if you set your mind to something, create goals, craft plans, and take chances, you will be able to obtain these things and create a life of passion. This is one of the biggest life lessons that I have ever learned, and it is my favourite to share. Set goals and act on them confidently—it may take time, but you will get there.
Setting goals is a tool can help in all aspects of your life, such as getting physically and mentally healthy. It is important to recognize that you are no good for anyone (especially yourself) if you are not taking good care of your body and mind. There is only one of you, so it’s extremely important to take good care of yourself. Start now, and you’ll be happy later.
Try this: set a health goal for yourself at the beginning of each semester—this should not be tied directly to weight—it should be tied to your overall health and well-being. For instance, for the fall semester, your goal could be to go for two walks around the arboretum per week. This may seem like a small goal, but it will help keep you active, clear your mind after a long week, allow you to appreciate the beauty of the University of Guelph campus, and also allow you to feel a sense of accomplishment, which is ultimately what keeps you thriving for more. There will be times when you feel rundown and tired, like things aren’t working out as planned. What you need to do is take back control of your life and make changes to prove to yourself that you are capable of achieving great things. You just need to pick your chin up and act. If you start strong and continue paying attention to what is going on around you and within yourself, you will be able to persevere through anything life throws at you. In times of trouble, take your life back!
About
The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.