The start of something new: fresh starts in new semesters

January is full of fresh starts for college students- new year, new semester, new class schedule. There is so much new going on, and many are even moving back to a different town after spending the holidays at home. January is a time to make goals and a time to get reorganized, re-centered and refocused.

So how have I taken advantage of a fresh start? I chose my word of the year. Each year I choose a word that defines my year or where I want to be at the end of the year. For 2020, my word was REJOICE. A trait within myself that I have always loved was my positivity, and at the beginning of 2020, I found that it was harder to default to the optimism that came so easily to me before. I wanted to set a goal for myself to rejoice in whatever life threw at me. I wanted to stay centered on the fact that even when life was crazy, God is still in control, and life is still good.

Well, I never could have imagined what life would end up throwing at me in 2020. COVID-19 was not expected for anyone, and its impact was far greater than we ever figured it would be. I had to move back home in March, and I stayed home for about 6 months, the longest I had been home since I graduated high school. I celebrated my 20th birthday in lock-down. I was separated from my people, and my physical touch loving heart had to resist hugging my friends. YET STILL, good things happened. I made new friends from UGA online. I spent more time with my family. I got to experience the power of social media when using it to market Ochlockonee Ridge Farms. I was able to find joy in the midst of quarantine.

However, nothing could have prepared me for the second half of 2020. In August, I received a call that I never thought I would ever receive at my age. My best friend had passed away. I had to navigate a grief that I had never experienced before. How can you rejoice when a 20 year long friendship is cut short because of death? I think I saw truly the difference between happiness and joy. I was not happy by any means; I was devastated. I miss my friend daily. However, I could have joy in knowing that my friend was with the Lord. I had to constantly remind myself that God has a plan, and God is still in control, and in that truth, I could find joy.

So here we are. It's 2021. It's a new year, a new start after a hard and difficult year. What do I want to focus on this year? This year I have selected the word, "WHOLEHEARTED." Merriam-Webster defines wholehearted as "completely and sincerely devoted, determined, and enthusiastic" and "free from all reserve or hesitation." This year, I want to be wholehearted in every aspect of my life. I want to be devoted, determined, and enthusiastic in my career, in school, in my relationship with God, in my friendships, in my sorority. I want my life to be goal-oriented.

Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.
Colossians 3:23 ISV

So this year I will strive to be wholehearted. I will set goals, and I will meet them. I will deepen my relationships with people. I will excel in my school work. I will serve my sorority consistently. I will live life well.