Sometimes we need to remind ourselves what life's all about

Sometimes I feel really lucky. I have a very supportive family that loves me. I have loyal friends who are always there for me when I need them. I have a nice home to go back to that always makes me feel happy and welcome and comfortable. I go to a good, private university... it may cost a lot, but my parents consider it a worthwhile investment for me. I have a lot of passion for writing, and I'll hopefully be able to use that in my future career so that I'll go into work each day excited and anxious to get started. I enjoy learning and do well in school. I understand new material quickly. I have always had teachers that have wanted me to succeed. I've had coaches who have seen my potential and helped me to capitalize on it. I've had patient, understanding, and encouraging teammates. I'm good at public speaking and really enjoy expressing my ideas and opinions with others. I have a grandma that teaches me important lessons about life without lecturing or scolding. I have a terrific, caring, and considerate roommate. I have friends who have gone out of their way to help me adjust to St. Mary's. I'm involved in many great activities in which I've met so many awesome people and learned so many things about the world. I had the opportunity to go to Biloxi to help rebuild after Katrina, and I value that experience so much. I have seen people with so much less than I have who are so happy and content and enthusiastic about life. I'm healthy (minus my sprained ankle, of course ;)). I have everything I need and many things I don't. I enjoy being busy and can handle stress fairly well. I keep working at things I love, such as volleyball, even when I'm not the best or don't succeed the first time. I am persistent and determined and highly motivated. I have a talented little sister who makes me proud every day, and she constantly reminds me to be a good person and make the right decision. I have learned at least one lesson from every mistake I make. I have a great attitude about life and truly believe that things have a way of working themselves out. I know there is a point to any bad thing that happens. I sometimes get sad about things I no longer have or miss things so much that I ache, but I am grateful that I ever had so many amazing things in my life worth missing so much. I love my imperfections and have no desire to be perfect. I'm usually very happy with who I am. I laugh a lot. I am happy with what I have and usually don't sit around wanting more. Honestly, I don't feel really lucky often enough.

With only 2 weeks left of my freshman year of college, I already feel as though my life has direction and meaning. I have a pretty good idea of what I want from life and really feel like I have things pretty much figured out. Obviously, things never go according to plans, so I skipped on the details. Basically, what I know is that I'm 100% positive of my majors and minor (journalism and Spanish majors, global studies minor), and I'm thinking I want to be a copy editor. I'm a total grammar freak and would be good at it. I've heard they're in pretty high demand, though I also hear they don't get to write much... I'll have to think about that a little more. I do still have time, and as copy editor of the "Cardinal" next year, I might gain some more insight as to whether or not that's what I want to do with my life.