Reflection 1- what I have learned about myself

      This year has flown by really fast. It’s hard to believe that the semester is almost over, and when it is I will only have three more semesters at TCU. The thought of having to go out into the real world is a little unsettling, but I think that I am preparing myself to succeed with everything I am doing here at school.

                I think the most important things that I have learned have been about me. I don’t usually reflect on how I’m doing or how I see the world or why I did something. I usually just go with the flow and assume that everything will work out. But this semester I did learn a few things about me that I think are important. The first thing that really hit me this semester has to do with my running career. Since 8^th grade, I knew I wanted to run cross country in college. I was talented enough to do it. I just needed the willpower. My dreams came true when I was able to run for TCU. I had two great years filled with a lot of great memories and a lot of frustration with injuries. Overall, I couldn’t ask for anything else. But this year I left my team. I did it with a heavy heart. It was a rough departure, and I won’t get into the specifics, but I didn’t know what I would do without the sport anymore. I knew there would be a day when I would have to put up the spikes for good, and I thought I had prepared myself for it, but sadly there was a part of me that was not quite ready to let go.

                After a few weeks, it didn’t bother me as much. I remember talking with a freshman on the team during a BYX rush event. Talking with him didn’t make me feel any regret or anything. I actually felt pretty good. I think that was the point where I really decided that I was done, and that I was ok with that. Throughout this semester, I have been getting a lot more involved on campus, and especially within my fraternity. I am the leader of a cell group, I got a Little, and most recently I was elected to be Treasurer for BYX. I have been a lot less tired thanks to not having to get up at 5:30 to go to practice, and I’m doing really good in my classes (not that I was having trouble in the first place, I just really like the extra time to study). Overall, I would have to say my life improved after I walked away from running (see what I did there?).  I have learned that I can be happy without cross country. Don’t get me wrong, I loved being a part of the team, and I will never forget the fantastic opportunity that I had, but I am so glad that I can go through my last two years of college as a normal student.

                I’ve learned a few other things as well. I probably value sleep too much.  I am very good at convincing myself to sleep in a little longer, even though I should be working on homework or some other thing. I have been trying to train myself to be diligent and wake up early, but it’s hard for me. Now that I don’t have to get up early for cross country, I have the luxury of sleeping in past 6:00am, so I’ve been taking advantage of it. Along the same lines, I am an extreme procrastinator. I didn’t know just how bad I was until this semester. I don’t know why, but for some reason I live by the creed Squidward made in an episode of SpongeBob, “Why do today what you can put off till tomorrow?” It is horrible advice, but I think that it describes me well. I need to follow Mr. Krab’s advice when he quipped, “What is today but yesterday’s tomorrow?” meaning, “Get stuff done today!” If you don’t get the reference, you should watch more SpongeBob (the older episodes because the newer ones are just plain dumb in my opinion).

                Alright, that’s all I have for now. I’ll write more on what I have learned school-wise next time.

Adios,

Mason