College is often remembered for the parties, freedom and friends. I suppose that goes for life in general.
People talk about the good things. But what about that teacher that made you jump through every obstacle for a passing grade. What about that bad roommate, the financial difficulties, the broken bones and the deaths? Why don’t people talk about the bad things?
I suppose many, including myself, choose to ignore the harder parts in life, in hopes to disguise them with the good parts. But truth is, the hard parts never really go away. They can hurt you, tear you apart if you let them, or help you grow, let you learn, even excel.
The recent loss of Culpeper resident, Mark Simpson, hit home.
He’s just like me; a kid from Culpeper who left home to pursue athletics and education at a higher level. A kid trying to find himself, find a purpose and future.
I had just finished playing a basketball game at Concord University, the college Mark had attended. I was sitting on a bench awaiting the bus and up walked Mark with his infamous smile and charming “Hey, Hannah.”
I hadn’t spoken or even seen Mark since high school and with no hesitation he sat beside me. We spent the next 20 minutes talking of family and school. I had no idea the hug goodbye would really be goodbye.
Mark was memorable. So was my friend who I lost senior year, my uncle who I lost in October of this year and my Nana who followed closely in November. All memorable — all whose memories I try to overshadow with less hurtful ones.
The “what if’s” and the “I wish time would rewind,” phrases aren’t even worth saying. Time is not what we fear; we fear what time will change or what it won’t change, what it will bring. But changes should be embraced — good or bad, learn from them, and grow from them. Time is inevitable, change is unavoidable, but growth is limitless.
I’ve learned a few things along the way; one being that all pain clenches the heart just as hard. Death or break up, doesn’t matter, the difference only being that some pain lasts longer than others. Two, is that no matter how heavy the worries of the world may feel, I assure you it does not stop spinning.
My Dad once told me that bad things only happen to the strong, because they can handle it. Here’s the catch, bad things happen to everyone — therefore everyone is strong. So lift the pain off your chest, take the world off your shoulders and dance. Go ahead; celebrate the good things — spin with the world.
So College Advice: Find a way to relieve your worries. Talk to someone; write it down, life is full of struggles awaiting your strength. It’s OK to remember, but not OK to let life bring you down. My brother and his buddy just made a song, if you need a smile check it out. YouTube: Green Ink “Thumbs Up” music video.
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