Another month has come and gone…a.k.a. it’s time for another reflection-esque post! From Magic Kingdom to Marston Science Library, the month of October was filled with both adventures and obstacles. I completed my first round of midterms and now – an infinite amount of eraser shavings, paper cuts, and Starbucks later – I’m preparing for the next chunk of exams. (My “study break” for tonight = finally finishing this post. That’s allowed, right?)

One thing I find interesting about my time in college thus far is how I really can notice a change in myself over a relatively short period of time – nothing drastic or negative – but it’s weird to reflect on the past few weeks and month(s) and actually feel like I have grown (at least a little bit).

Some days are good…

There are the days when everything goes right; I run into friends while walking around on campus, the sun beats down through the palm trees (sorry, Ohio friends), I try something new (i.e. yoga class, which I have been loving), and I feel productive. (It sounds so cheesy, but these are things I dreamt about in high school.) These days, I can’t help but be happy – these are the moments that remind me how much I love being in college and how proud and lucky I am to be here at UF.

…and some days are NOT good. And it’s ok.

Even the happiest of times are balanced out with some not-so-fun occurrences. I remember talking about this in a previous post – the world does not stop turning because of an accomplishment or an amazing discovery, no matter how exciting it is – and the same goes for unfortunate events. The pace of life is fast, and it doesn’t take much to get stressed or suddenly feel “behind” or even lost, even during sad times. We must remember that it’s ok to feel and express these emotions, even if it means taking things a little slower some days.

You can’t always do everything…

FOMO = Fear Of Missing Out. For a lot of people, especially in college, it’s hard to grasp the idea of “missing out” on something (a party, an organized event, a function that all their friends will be at, etc.), but at some point, you have to move on and understand that it is not the end of the world. It’s more important to pick and choose what you can participate in based on what fits in your schedule. Before heading to college, I heard and read about the importance of not piling on too many activities in addition to classes, at least during the first semester, and I really understand this now. I remind myself that I AM doing enough by getting involved gradually and doing the best I can with everything I currently have on my plate.

…but you can do something.

Not every month, week, or day is going to go smoothly. It’s not always easy to look on the bright side, but as long as I remember that I am here (in college) to pursue my passions and the things I love, I know that I will find a way to make it work.

I had a lovely time with my parents during Phi Mu Family Weekend!

Satchel’s pizza – a Gainesville classic.

Loved the ambience at Satchel’s

Our mob of purple took Disney by storm!

Getting ready to ride the Monorail into Magic Kingdom with my “Pham”

DOLE WHIP = pineapple-infused “whip”…a tastebud experience

October was my birthday month!

On another note, thank you to everyone, including family members, friends, and my loyal sisters who were there for me during some not-so-great moments this month. I am lucky to be surrounded by people who I’ve only known for a few months, but who are already very special to me.

Here’s to the orange and blue, my very first Gator homecoming, and many more great things to come,

Darcy
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