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By Grace Fields
A few years ago, my dad handed me a stack of papers. This stack of papers was an instruction manual. A week prior I had ordered the bookshelf due to a growing need for shelf space. My dad handed me those instructions knowing that I had all the tools and skills to put the bookshelf together myself. Despite my ability to accomplish the task, the younger me chose the easy way out. I called my grandfather, who I knew would be willing to do the job for me.
Entering my first semester of college I have been adjusting to my newfound independence. I quickly realized I needed more shelf space; the bookshelf problem reemerged. Similarly to my previous response, I was thinking of ways I could throw this problem on someone else. My dad, once again, told me that I could do it myself. I begrudgingly trekked across the parking lot to my car in the back of the parking lot. I went to the store by myself. I chose the bookshelf by myself. I bought the bookshelf by myself. I lugged the bookshelf back across the parking lot (in the heat of the day) by myself. After some trial and error, I assembled it by myself. I had done it! The experience made me realize that I am capable of more than I realized. Even though the task may seem trivial, I was proud of myself.
My life up until now had been sprinkled with these moments: relying on others to get the hard things done for me. Asking for help is not necessarily a bad thing, but I realize now that the danger is in never overcoming challenges yourself. My bookshelf is now one of the most precious items in my dorm. The bookshelf is my first step into adulthood: accomplishing a task myself. I am excited to see what bigger and brighter things I can accomplish in the future.
Grace Fields is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2028. She is studying political science.