x This morning, I woke up at the crack of dawn to watch the sunrise. I was always a morning person in high school since class started so early, but I quickly grew accustomed to sleeping in for later college classes. As I was sitting on the quad, the clouds started clearing up as the sun began to rise. I saw the beauty of the sun rise by myself, on an empty quad, in the middle of a quiet campus, and realized how much time there is in a single day. I realized that sleeping till noon already makes my day half over, and that lying in bed playing with my phone subtracts so much time I could potentially use to be productive. Although I don’t plan on waking up that early any time soon, watching the sunrise definitely made me more in touch with my time management.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to ski for the first time ever, but that’s a story for another time. Right after class on Friday, I packed as fast as I could, hopped into a car, and drove down to New York for the weekend. We planned certain stops for food, grabbing Chick-fil-A and aimlessly driving around for Scranton to find Krispy Kreme. We decided to give up however, because we wanted to get to the ski house we had booked as soon as possible. At the ski house, the 30-something of us stayed up until the early morning hanging out and having a good time. 

I had originally planned on returning Sunday morning/afternoon, but a spurt of impulse guided me to drive back to campus Saturday evening. We dreaded the nearly 5 hour drive back and planned on stopping as little as possible so we could get in our comfortable beds immediately. About 2 hours into the drive, however, the fatigue built up from both the lack of sleep and skiing all day, meaning I had to stop to refresh myself. When we stopped for gas, we realized that we could make the drive more fun if we stopped trying to beat the ETA and looked for different places to explore. We finally made it to campus late at night; we were exhausted but our little road trip created fond memories.

By deciding to leave the evening after a long day, I had concerns over how tired I would be while driving and the risks we were making in driving through the pitch-black backwood roads. After having to stop and by talking to my friends, I realized that the fatigue I was faced with wasn’t from the lack of sleep or the exhaustion from skiing. Those factors definitely contributed, but what was really killing me was the anxiety and stress in getting home as soon as possible. Making an impulsive decision to leave the ski house in an exhausted state helped me gain a first-hand experience of the saying, “It’s not about the destination, but the journey.” As all good things take time, we meandered throughout New York and Pennsylvania taking weird routes and stopping at weirder places. Making this drive helped me realize that the best outcome isn’t rushed, but rather it takes time and a good attitude.

This past Monday was no different from others. I woke up, showered, and went to my classes for the day. I had a sandwich for lunch and started my walk back to my dorm to do homework. I made a slight detour to my car to get something when I saw a lady aimlessly looking around behind Roberts Hall. I took out my earbuds in case she would ask me something, which she did. She asked where Tustin Hall was and I guided her in approximately the right direction. As I turned around, she asked me another question about how I like Bucknell as a school. I answered her truthfully and told her of the struggles I had my first year being far away from home. She said that her daughter, who was doing the “ Day in the Life” program that day was nervous about being far away from home too, seeing as they were from California. In what I thought was supposed to be a single question and answer turned into a full conversation about my thoughts on Bucknell and the experiences I’ve had. She ended up missing the program she was planning to attend, and I offered to give her a tour of the campus. She gleefully agreed, wanting to get a personalized tour of campus from my point of view. As we were walking through campus, we met up with her daughter, who joined us. The mother’s friend and her daughter, as well as a new friend they made that day, joined my impromptu tour as well. I guided them throughout the academic buildings, athletic facilities, and everything in between. The crowd seemed engaged in everything I had to say and asked lots of questions. I led them to the ELC where the rest of their program was starting and said my closing remarks and my goodbyes. My underqualified, unplanned, and very impulsive decision reopened my eyes to something I had long forgotten about.

As students progress through their time at Bucknell, we tend to forget about the small worries and questions we had as we gain traction towards our new lives. By accidentally giving a tour, I was able to give an unstructured, personalized experience for people who aren’t familiar with the University. I was reminded of the hardships I faced as a new Bucknellian and how I overcame them, as well as being able to share my fun experiences with people who helped me though such times. I realized afterwards that I had gotten so lost and focused in my life now that I forgot about how I got to this point in my life. The transition we make into college and adulthood isn’t something everyone takes lightly or can cope with easily. In my tour, I was refreshed in the excitement and fear both parents and new students face in coming to a new environment. This inspired me to think more holistically of everything around me, and to not forget the people who helped me get to the point where I am today. Lessons and experiences shape a person’s character. It’s easy to forget such encounters in the past when you’re focused on the “now,” and I’m glad that I could help the new college parents and students, but also that I have a better sense on the different thought processes that happen throughout time.

I spent this past weekend at a campsite for the Posse Plus Retreat. I went into the retreat with a very negative outlook which I based on last year’s experience. Upon reaching the grounds, I was placed in a 10-person cabin, mostly with people I wasn’t familiar with. When the program began, I was reluctant to do any icebreakers or engage with other attendees so I stuck with my friends and avoided extra interactions.

My crowded cabin turned out to be a lot of fun as people came in and out throughout the night, leaving me and my roommates with little-to-no sleep. The next morning I felt more inclined to talk to different people, probably as a result of both my sleep deprivation and spending the whole night with a plethora of interesting people. Towards the end of the night, everyone was tired and conversations became more and more emotional. After spending some time writing letters to our future selves, we got the chance to share what we wrote in front of the whole program. As people were sharing, I heard a lot of reminders for self-love and perseverance but one quote in particular stuck with me. It came from an international student from Ghana who recited a quote he grew up hearing: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” When I heard this, I felt like I got hit with a brick wall. All throughout my life I’ve always wanted to do everything myself so I had full control and went at the pace I wanted. I’ve always appreciated companionship, but I never looked at it as a necessity for the longevity of success. 

Inspiration comes in different ways such as a scenic view, a meaningful conversation, or a substantial event. Hearing this inspired me to change the way I perceive success and how to be more trusting and engaging with people, because maybe I can learn a thing or two from someone else.