At the time that I’m writing this blog, the stress of midterm season has just passed with the fast approaching promise of finals just over the horizon. The warmth of spring is in the air, and everyone can feel the concurrent feelings of both panic and relief that come with another semester nearing its end.
When we’re in the thick of assignments and deadlines, I think it’s fair to say that most of us aren’t thinking about how excited we were when we first received our acceptance letter. Many of us have likely heard of the benefits of practising gratitude somewhere or another, but how many of us actually apply the practice of gratitude in our academics?
A month before I started my bachelors in psychology at the U of A, I finished a book called Educated by Tara Westover. (I highly recommend this book, but be warned there are some difficult topics). To this day, it is one of the most impactful books that I’ve ever read because of how it opened my perspective and realization to how much of a privilege education is.
Here in western Canada, we have fairly decent access to education and opportunities like grants, scholarships, and student loans - and though it may not be as ideal as free education, it seems privileged to complain when comparing our access and opportunities to other parts of the world.
What it comes down to is this: every once in a while, whether it’s in the middle of a late night study sesh, or during a lecture with your favourite prof, zoom out your perspective for a minute. Think about everything you’ve gone through to get to this point in your education, and be proud. Think of the mini version of yourself on your first day of kindergarten, cheering you on. (I don’t know about you, but that visual makes me emotional).
Whatever you do, wherever you are in your education journey, be grateful. You’re doing amazing.
