Life is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

An analogy I was told when I first became a camp counselor at an eight week long sleep-away camp was that camp is a marathon not a sprint, and you need to learn how to keep up your energy through all 26.2 grueling miles. Although I run about as quickly and gracefully as a baby who still needs to hold onto the edge of a table to walk, I think I understood the comparison, and being in college has done nothing but confirmed that this metaphor doesn't only apply to being a camp counselor, but being a college student. And you know, a person in general.

Since I woke up at 9:30 (I know, I'm spoiled) this morning I haven't stopped doing things. Not everything I did today was scheduled or even really necessary but I didn't take a minute to be alone until I sat down about eight minutes ago and started writing. And as much as I love being alone, almost to the point of a fault, I think my time was used much more wisely today, rushing from activity to activity, then it was spent yesterday, where I spent an hour or two (or three...) watching Travel Channel specials on Netflix.

While I usually spend my afternoons in a quintessentially collegiate way- eating, napping, playing Solitaire, and watching How I Met Your Mother- today I experienced another extremely collegiate extreme of the college spectrum. I spent two and a half hours in an art museum, ate frozen yogurt with one of my new sorority sisters, had dinner (twice, with two different groups of friends), and went to the theatre. I had new experiences with people I'm just getting to know and I did have an amazing time. People tell me that what you remember about college is the nights you get out of your dorm and try something new, not the nights where you sit by yourself and study, and although I was skeptical at first I'm starting to believe it's true.

The youth these days have adopted an expression, "Can't stop, won't stop." Although a common usage of said expression is in regards to certain illegal behaviors, I think it can be used to describe how we approach the experiences we choose to participate in. Being in college opens the doors to so many opportunities I never had before and probably will never have again. And I simply can't stop and won't stop seizing them.

Love,

Stephanie