What it's all about...

It's all about priorities. If someone asked me to sum up college in one word it would be "priorities." Especially if you're the student who wants to seize every opportunity, maintain a fun social life, keep your faith running strong, stay in touch with family and friends, and excel in all your classes (a.k.a. Sarah Elisabeth Hargis).

From the beginning of the year, I've had my plate stacked: Centre Players, CCF, Student Government (SGA), Bonner Program, Norton Center usher, My CENTRE Life, and now Alpha Delta Pi. Like I've said before, I'm just the kind of person that likes to be really involved—it seems to be how I operate. There have been times though that I've just wanted to cry, and sometimes I have! I've sat on my bed, and desk several times, and have just stared down at the notebook I'd be working in and just pause...and think about ALL the other things I have to get done and meetings to go to and I'd begin to get discouraged and let out a deep sigh and start tearing up.

Just a few days ago, as I was sitting alone in the laundry room in the basement, waiting for my laundry to get done, I turned on the radio and popped out my journal. I was listening to a Christian station with inspirational music playing, and I just started to think about how I've mis-prioritized things in my life. I thought back to a Bible Study discussion some friends and I had that Friday night, and one of my friends, Jay, talked about the "Jar Analogy": You have a handful of big rocks, some pebbles, sand, and water. First you fill the jar starting with all your sand, then you put your pebbles all on top, then you pour in the water, and then by the time your try to shove in the big rocks, not all of them will fit in. So you start over. First you fill the jar with your big rocks. The big rocks have spaces all in between them, so you then put in your small pebbles—the pebbles fill all those small gaps. Then you put in the sand, and the sand seeps through all the tiny holes left between the pebbles and rocks. Lastly you pour in the water, and it goes through everything. Finally you are left with a full and perfectly fit jar.

So it's not to say that you can have your life in a perfect little jar, but that analogy really put in perspective for me how much better I could live my college days if I put things into better priorities. Lately I've been really feeling distant from my faith, so you know what you need to do Sarah Hargis? Probably put it back on your priority list! Lately I haven't seen the best outcomes of my grades, so you know what you probably need to do Sarah Hargis? Probably put more library time and appointments with your professors on the priority list!

It's all about priorities. That's how you can make the most out of your college experience. That's how you keep yourself from being discouraged to the point of tears. That's how you stay "free." That's how you stay an excited Centre College student! Priorities.