The title of this post is a testament to reaching the milestone of "halfway through my undergraduate experience." I cannot believe I have spent two years here already. At the same time, I cannot believe it has just been two years. It feels as though half my life has been lived in the past four semesters. So much can be learned in these wonderful places called universities, and I hope to continue my growth in the years to come. A common phrase used in runner culture is that the last six miles is half the race when referring to marathons. After working for so long, it is both psychologically and physically strenuous pushing onward. I know my undergraduate career will be more challenging as I near graduation, and I welcome that excitement. I also happily accept that, as I pass the halfway point, more stands ahead than behind.
This semester has been rather busy. As I've detailed in earlier posts, I took on a number of commitments while juggling a pretty heavy course load. As I finish my exams, I am happy to say that I am one test away from having a semester GPA of 4.0 across nine classes (don't worry, a few were 1-hour courses) while serving as an officer of three organizations on ETSU's campus. These involvements have been described before, so please refer to past posts if you would like to know more. I was still able to be inspired by more than a few people to appreciate as much as I can while I work and make time to enjoy life away from the books. That leads me to talking about what I often call "the things we should be doing anyway but are part of collo to ensure us honors students are truly being honorsy" (inspried by Daniel Hedden). I was able to relieve some stress prior to the start of finals season by volunteering one weekend at the Johnson City Animal Shelter. A favorite service location for many campus groups, I was able to spend quality time with some friends while caring for some wonderfully furry creatures. Having a severe allergy to cats, I did my best to work with those that bark rather than meow. This was a great way to bond with some my fellow NSLS executives prior to our induction ceremony. That induction, which happened a few short weeks ago, was quite successful and allowed for a few neat opportunities. Of course, I got to work closely with my friends in planning and setting up for the event. I was also able to speak in part of the ceremony and see one of my favorite professors, Dr. Lindsey King, receive an award for her excellence in teaching. Even with all of this excitement, that event was not quite as impressive to me as the first Psi Chi induction under the reestablished ETSU chapter. With the help of our incredible advisor, Dr. Matt McBee, the officers of this term were able to put on a formal candlelight ceremony. I sat in the front of the room along with two of my best friends, all of us completely overdressed, looking at a smiling crowd of new inductees. As I read from the script that I'm assuming predates me by at least fifty years, I was reminded that I am truly making the most of my time in college. This isn't done by mindlessly participating in activities to build up a resume. Only part of being successful is taking the initiative to use the resources presented. Truly making the most of this incredible experience requires looking at the people sitting to the left and to the right, finding those that are inspired to better themselves, working with and through them to find personal fulfillment, and striving to bring those same opportunities to others. This was made possible by taking part in meaningful activities with organizations that share my values. Take that as encouragement, you first-years from the collo site, to actively search for your place no matter how many you find. Wrapping up my personal development project this semester, I have to admit that the results were very interesting. I believe it is possible to perform tasks on a level unimaginable to most, combining speed and accuracy to produce incredible efficiency. While my memory is not jaw-dropping, the efficiency strategies that I employed in studying worked absolute wonders. I did not develop a rigid schedule in which I used my habit patterns to encourage productivity. With all of my responsibilities, I still indulged in entertainment and spending time with friends. Rather than becoming the sort of high-performing machine of a human being that I could have theoretically designed and worked toward becoming, I realized my potential, more fully at least, as a successful student. This allowed me to perform well in classes and take every opportunity to love the people and environment around me. With this result, I am happy, and I am a better person because of it. Next semester will involve a change of scenery. No, I am not transferring. My fall will be spent in Washington, D.C., as I have been accepted to the Academic Internship Program offered by The Washington Center. Details about this endeavor will follow as I learn more throughout the summer. It's been a fantastic year, and I hope you all stick around for those to come. Stay happy, my friends. -JD
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