Prodesse Quam Conspici...a reminder of purpose
I disliked most of the time I spent as a teenager. I felt consistently awkward, lacked confidence, and couldn't really figure out who I was. I was considered "smart"-good classes, debate team, but was never athletic. I had a core group of really nice friends, and they were good to me, but I felt so insecure I feared they would disappear in a moment.
I was a classic good girl. I didn't get in to trouble. I wasn't interested in drinking or anything like that, I liked school, and was in the youth group at church. However, being a teen was hard-people were tough, comments were unkind, and frankly, I yearned for college and an opportunity to reinvent myself.
When I left for college, I was thrilled to be the only person from my high school attending Miami University. I wanted the chance to be myself, be real, and leave it up to others to take it or leave it. I was so blessed that I fell into a hallway my freshman year with girls who were funny, smart, and challenged me to stop being 'perfect'. To this day, they love telling of teaching me how to have fun...and they did a great job.
I had a great time. I had devoted (and still devoted) friends. When I had a formal, I was lucky enough to have a few guy friends who were total gentleman who were my escorts. It was fun. I was able to stop taking life so seriously....I was able to embrace it. I dated a bit, but never took it or myself too seriously. I was able to evolve into who I wanted to be. I had a part time job working the Sports Center was able to find a niche in myself of health and fitness I'd never known was there.
College was empowering. I changed my major about 100 times, finally landing on history. I had no idea how I'd become employed (much to the dismay of my dad), but I knew I loved reading and writing about another time. It was like an escape to learn about those who framed the world as we know it. I had a wonderful professor who was so good that students would actively jockey to get into his class-and sit in the aisles to hear him lecture. After my first 100 level class with him, I wrote him a note in my final exam..."Thanks to you, I've declared history as my major". When I graduated with a BA in History, I slipped the professor a thank you note under his office door. His lecture changed my life.
Graduation from Miami was one my happiest and most bittersweet days. As I sat beside my roommates and a few friends, I couldn't believe that it was over. Somehow, even at 22, I knew that something special had happened to me on this campus. I had joked to my father that I was smarter for attending college at Miami---and while I had said it in jest, it was true. My parents hard earned money was well spent. I was better for the past four years. I was physically stronger, more confident, and certain that I really liked myself....something I could not have said four years earlier.
About fifteen years later, when I see my college friends, they often notice that I'm still wearing the simple little signet ring that has the seal of our college. I never really liked the traditional college rings back then, so I had a local jeweler stamp the Miami seal into a ring....and I have worn it most days since. It's a reminder that sometimes you have to go far from home to find yourself, but it's the best journey of all. Truly the best.
I was a classic good girl. I didn't get in to trouble. I wasn't interested in drinking or anything like that, I liked school, and was in the youth group at church. However, being a teen was hard-people were tough, comments were unkind, and frankly, I yearned for college and an opportunity to reinvent myself.
When I left for college, I was thrilled to be the only person from my high school attending Miami University. I wanted the chance to be myself, be real, and leave it up to others to take it or leave it. I was so blessed that I fell into a hallway my freshman year with girls who were funny, smart, and challenged me to stop being 'perfect'. To this day, they love telling of teaching me how to have fun...and they did a great job.
I had a great time. I had devoted (and still devoted) friends. When I had a formal, I was lucky enough to have a few guy friends who were total gentleman who were my escorts. It was fun. I was able to stop taking life so seriously....I was able to embrace it. I dated a bit, but never took it or myself too seriously. I was able to evolve into who I wanted to be. I had a part time job working the Sports Center was able to find a niche in myself of health and fitness I'd never known was there.
College was empowering. I changed my major about 100 times, finally landing on history. I had no idea how I'd become employed (much to the dismay of my dad), but I knew I loved reading and writing about another time. It was like an escape to learn about those who framed the world as we know it. I had a wonderful professor who was so good that students would actively jockey to get into his class-and sit in the aisles to hear him lecture. After my first 100 level class with him, I wrote him a note in my final exam..."Thanks to you, I've declared history as my major". When I graduated with a BA in History, I slipped the professor a thank you note under his office door. His lecture changed my life.
Graduation from Miami was one my happiest and most bittersweet days. As I sat beside my roommates and a few friends, I couldn't believe that it was over. Somehow, even at 22, I knew that something special had happened to me on this campus. I had joked to my father that I was smarter for attending college at Miami---and while I had said it in jest, it was true. My parents hard earned money was well spent. I was better for the past four years. I was physically stronger, more confident, and certain that I really liked myself....something I could not have said four years earlier.
About fifteen years later, when I see my college friends, they often notice that I'm still wearing the simple little signet ring that has the seal of our college. I never really liked the traditional college rings back then, so I had a local jeweler stamp the Miami seal into a ring....and I have worn it most days since. It's a reminder that sometimes you have to go far from home to find yourself, but it's the best journey of all. Truly the best.
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