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| Samantha Roney ('15) |
I have a confession to make: I'm not good at slowing down. Everything I do in life is fast. I walk, talk, eat, read, and (to my parents dismay) drive, fast. My typical day would give a NASCAR driver a run for his money. My normal hectic schedule was made even more busy this semester when I decided to take on an internship at a local wealth management firm. You may be thinking, "Wow, this girl is crazy!" or "Do you have time to sleep?" The answer to those questions is an undoubtedly, "yes," I am crazy, and, "no," I don't have much time to sleep. My hectic life never really bothered me until a few months ago when I realized I have no time for myself. Well, actually I have no time by myself. Sitting on the balcony of a resort in Orlando, where my dad and I stayed for the Russell Athletic Bowl, I realized I have no time to think for myself, by myself. On a daily basis I'm surrounded by teachers, students, friends, roommates, and a host of other people. It's no wonder that when I began my new internship (which is 25 minutes away from my apartment), I freaked out having to commute-by myself-to work. It's so weird having 25 minutes where there is nothing to do but drive. No one for me to talk to, no one for me to text, and no where for me to run away from my thoughts.
At the beginning of my freshman year, Dr. Gregg forced the freshman to find a place on campus where we could spend quiet time in reflection. In all honesty, I'm not sure I need a special space to reflect and I definitely don't want to reflect quietly. I really don't have the time or the motivation to do anything like that. However, I do have time to sit in my car and blast Ke$ha or Lady Antebellum. Time to yourself doesn't have to be quiet, it doesn't have to be a special place, and honestly it doesn't have to be planned. Just find sometime each day where you can just be with you. Listen to music in the car, think about what you want to be when you grow up, have a real conversation with yourself about your happiness in the drive-through line. Knowing yourself and your dreams isn't easy, but it's important to get to know those things through small baby steps. Because just think - you are going to be with yourself forever, so you might want to know who you are. Believe me, it makes 25 minute commutes much more comfortable.
Samantha Roney is a junior McConnell Scholar from Danville, KY. Roney is studying political science and economics.