Cheers!
It seems like only yesterday when we first got a glimpse of this university, dreaming that one day we might become proud alumni’s or products of this institution. WE DID IT! We made it through four years of countless sleepless nights, bad hair days, ballroom dancing P.E. show downs, excruciating major subjects, agonizing minor “feeling major” subjects, heart pounding hospital exposures, hand paralyzing case studies, FCA’s, case presentations and drug studies, tons of projects and requirements and our most recent endeavor, the thesis proposal. But don’t bring out the wine and confetti yet. For all we know, college life is about to get more “interesting” and like what most people say, we are just getting started.
It is then but normal for us students to take a break after a hard day’s work and loosen up, to celebrate.
Why is there a need for a celebration?
Some of us don’t even know whether we can be able make it through the 2nd semester without loosing our minds; whether we can stand one more night of thesis reviewing, another duty day of NPO and a never ending roller coaster of emotions. Being a third year student is NOT EASY. The paranoia never stops. Many have cried. Some fought. Others have suffered. Most of us prayed.
The typical 3rd year nursing student would… have a haggard and sometimes coma vigil look; be seen carrying thick MS books; have the 3rd floor of the library as a second home; and be seen in a particular group cramming, brainstorming, fighting, reviewing, and doing lots of paper work.
Misunderstandings, personal agendas, selfish pursuits, petty rivalries, inconsiderate individuals, laziness, and financial problems seem to cloud and dominate this crucial part of our college life.
Failing grades, terror teachers, break ups, forgotten friendships, hanging scholarships and home problems these are some of the factors, which not only cause us stress, but also fear, anxiety and most of all, depression.
It is not enough that we must undergo hours of discussion with our class instructors and yet not absorb a word they are saying. It is not enough that after spending hours of exhaustion in the hospital and community, you still end up at the library or garden finishing the loads of requirements in every subject. We end up sacrificing our weekends. Days that should be spent with our families and friends are now flooded with school work and at times used up in order to get the much needed sleep. To top it off, months of hard work, money spending, typing and data gathering is just easily shattered with one word. Redefense.
Again, the question is why is there a need to celebrate?
Our lives have become so complex. Eventually we become so tired of chasing and accomplishing our goals that we tend to give up or worse, become cynical and believe that in our life, all pleasure is temporary and joy is just an illusion. When we let the monotony of life get through us, we tend to forget the simple things that we should be thankful for. When the pain and troubles of life steal our focus, we forget to see the overwhelming goodness in life, which far outweighs the bad of this world.
Taking a break, reflecting, praying and celebrating will remind us of the truth: that the problems of life are momentary passing shadows however the joys in life are eternal and worth living.
There is so much to be grateful for.
Our health is, without doubt, one of the most important things. Without good health our ability to enjoy our lives, which we share with others, is seriously diminished. Spirituality is an important aspect as well. Believing in something can sometimes help bring you peace of mind. Spirituality and faith in our Lord can sustain us through the toughest of times. We have our friends and group mates, whom we have been with in our happiest as well as most devastating times. This is the time in which you would be able to distinguish your true friends from your “friends”. True friends, who will never leave you, be with you through thick and thin, in your highest and lowest points; people who will accept you with open arms and who will help you stand up each and every time you fall. We have our family, considering the pricey education they’ve tried so hard to provide us, are still there, rendering their unwavering support, guiding us every step of the way and loving us unconditionally. our class instructors, who not only provide us with insights and much needed knowledge, but also serve as our big brothers and sisters, even mothers and fathers, treating us with consideration and unadulterated concern.
Think about all the awesome things God gave us to enjoy: creation; companionship; life; love and the list goes on! We need to look for the joys and victories in life and acknowledge them! They are all around us; it is just that we don’t notice them. Big victories need to be celebrated. They happen when we finally achieve something substantial, overcome an intimidating challenge, or survive a seemingly hopeless situation. But the big victories are sometimes rare and that is one thing that makes them precious. This is why we need to get in the habit of celebrating the small stuff too. We need to look for the many little victories that fill our days and celebrate them as well. These happen all the time. They include things like impressing your CI, doing the right thing even when no one is looking, getting a high score in an NCM quiz, or just being able to submit your own journal reading on time.
Celebrating does not necessarily mean that we are interested in wasting our time, brains, emotions and dignity at some drunken quest that many people think of as a party. Those may sound and be fun for a time, but they take their toll eventually, draining our energy, making us feel lousy in the morning. Then again doing that occasionally wouldn’t hurt.
Once more, celebrating helps us to remember the good in life. It proves to the world that we have something worth getting excited about.
Never take anything for granted. Take responsibility. Having a positive attitude in life can get you so much further. Allow laughter and fun to penetrate your life. Have fun and always smile. Give yourself a treat! Take a time out. Working 7 days a week will soon run you down. Make time for your family and friends. Rest and get a good night’s sleep. We are young and we are just starting to live.
Celebrate each day, thank the Lord and enjoy life. Cheers!
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11/5/07 11:29 AM
Panalo ang URL a. Anatomically accurate! Kudos for the site name and your great achievement.