Today I have the (crazy) honor of heading back to my college to speak to the students! The University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point chose me as a featured alum and to be honest, I have not the slightest clue what I will say. This was the place where I spent four wonderful years, made incredible friends, spent hours in the pool, and met my husband, Drew. You see, it’s funny to think of who I was just a few short years ago. I am so much the same and so very much different and it’s pretty hard to put my finger on what has happened between then and now. I remember slouching in those chairs, studying for hours on end at Starbucks, and the early mornings and late nights at the pool for practice. College really was filled with glory days but looking at my life right now, I can tell you that these days are just as glorious (in a non-keg beer sort of way.) I think back to when people would come and speak to the class and I remember the “guests” who would bore me right out of my sweatpants and the ones who had me clinging to every last word. Yesterday I spent the day thinking about what I would tell myself if I could go back and chat with little 20 year old me… here’s what I would have to say:
First and foremost, be yourself. Everyone else is taken and the things that make you you are the things that will draw others in. You’re going to lose yourself time and time again and that’s okay, just come back to your goofy and silly self and all will return to right in your world. Your plans will change (and someday you will laugh at them.) What you think you want and what you really want probably are way different and the path to discovering that is full of bumps and winding roads. Don’t stray from the path when the going gets rough, it will all pan out and someday you will be thankful for said bumps. You might imagine yourself in a power suit but find yourself in sweat pants ands that’s alright, too. I totally thought I would wear a power suit and work my way up the ladder of Corporate America all while adding a zero onto the end of my paychecks… now I realize that money doesn’t matter, yoga pants are way more comfortable, and the only ladders I’ll climb are the ones necessary to get up into a tree fort. You will change, your dreams will change, and you have to know that it’s good to deviate from the plan.
I used to be so money driven, my focus was on a good salary and the safety of a job. Now, I chase happiness and this life suits me a hell of a lot more. It’s funny, but when you do something you love and you are good at it – your bank account will reflect that (and you won’t even care, because what you are doing doesn’t feel like work.) I don’t need the newest car on the block or the biggest TV in my living room, I aim to be comfortable and content in what we have and truth be told, quitting my corporate job was one of the best financial decisions I ever made. Guess what? When you bet on yourself and you know you can do it, you just might be right. One of the biggest things I wished I could reiterate is to: be kind, show compassion, offer grace. Life is short, nothing is promised, everyone is fighting a battle. Whether it’s holding to door open or sending a little letter, just choose kindness. Every person your encounter in life is an opportunity for you to learn something, soak it up, befriend people who are different from you, offer grace when it’s needed and just be a nice human.
College is four great years filled with roommates, friendships, parties, relationships, and of course learning. You might think you will never use “this stuff” again when you graduate but I am here to tell you to listen up. You never know where life will take you (ahem, I am a blogger, painter, and a photographer?!) and chances are, the stuff you are studying will only help you. Don’t just bank on one career for your lifetime, soak up as much information as possible and will your brain to remember as much of it as you possibly can. You will be happy you paid attention, pinky promise. My last drop of advice is to be in the moment. You have your whole life to enter the workforce, to be married, to grow up – enjoy being a kid. Stay up late, order take out, study for hours on end, drink wine with your roommates, invite your next door neighbor to bible study and just enjoy it! Don’t wish it all away so that you can enter the “real world” because I am here to tell you that the world truly is real and it waits for no one. Enjoy each trip around the sun, grow as a human, be yourself, and the rest will fall into place. You’ve got this and you’ll never guess what’s coming…. seriously, it just might shock you.
Special thanks to UWSP for all of the knowledge and for believing that I have something special to share with the students.
Send some good vibes my way and pray I don’t make a fool of myself, will ya? Here’s more info on my talks!
Beautiful Jenna! Love how you have matured and found your niche…for now!