Jalaj Punn (UCLA Computer Science Class of ’17), PC — Joy Sumabat

The Start of a New Chapter

Jalaj Punn
Jul 21, 2017 · 3 min read

As a recent graduate, it’s easy to get lost in the past years. There were ups, downs, and everything in between. Still, the positives and negatives always balanced themselves. Though there were an innumerable lessons I learned, there were a few that changed my approach on life drastically.

People come and go

Somewhere in your journey, you’ll meet people that you connect with. Soon, they become an integral part of your life and life couldn’t get any better. In a blink of an eye, things change. Those friends drift apart and you reach out to them but no avail. As a college student, it’s very easy to let loneliness affect you but sometimes, loneliness is the answer

At this point you’re probably going to stop reading because you think I’m full of shit but hear me out!

Loneliness allows you to be YOU. You’re not following anyone or trying to “fit in” with people. Every decision is made by YOU. You can pursue anything. Through personal decisions, you’ll find other individuals who share similar interests and that will naturally spark relationships. Fear will stop you and execution of this idea might take some time but it will be beyond fruitful. When you look back at this experience of “loneliness,” you will understand that some people are not meant to be held onto. Everyone comes into your life for a certain purpose — for some this will be temporary and for others it will be permanent. Always remember that many will come but quality over quantity will always prevail.

The best is yet to come

As a college student, life gets hard swiftly. With every class comes a learning curve. Might not seem daunting at first but with social life and extracurriculars, it can be overwhelming. Now it’s easy to get consumed by stress when you have numerous responsibilities. Most will succumb to this so it’s important to fight it the right way. Take a step back. Be present. Appreciate how far you’ve come and absorb everything around you. Now look at the task(s) in hand.

Take a deep breath

Yes, you’re stressed AF and life seems the worst right now. Realize that life is beautiful yet shitty for small instances. This is just one of those “moments”. Regardless of how bad life may seem, be aware that bigger and even better things are out there waiting for you. You can’t let current circumstances make you feel incompetent. You are more than capable of conquering any task. You only need yourself to get through this situation. Take it as a challenge, believe in yourself, and go after it.

Smile for absolute no reason

Every day is good, bad, or somewhere in the middle but there’s an easy way around this…trick yourself

What?

Our mind and body are intertwined. To an extent, your anxiety controls how you feel mentally and physically. Hence, the worry of 2 midterms, 1 project, and 1 paper will be visible. The solution is to smile. Facial expressions play a vital role in your emotions. Therefore, even smiling for a few seconds will do wonders to destress. You will be ebullient and more importantly, confident. In addition, there is an external benefit. Seeing someone smile will make any random individual naturally want to smile as well. Strive to live each moment to the fullest yet make unexpected positive impact in the lives of others.

All in all, college was an adventure to say the least. Throughout college, you’re always chasing something — a degree. As you walk across the stage at graduation, you finally cross the finish line. Though the degree was the driving factor to get passed all the necessary courses, it was the bumps in the road that made it even more fulfilling. Don’t avoid problems and uncomfortable situations. Approach them directly for they will grow you the most.

One chapter is finished yet another chapter begins as the chase continues toward another finish line.

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