the graduating post

So after the 4 years I've spent at Wilfrid Laurier University, I've learned...

-how to pack EVERYTHING into the car, even when there seems to be no more space
-homecooked food tastes so much better than anything you can eat at a restaurant!
-distraction is the cure to homesickness
-change isn't necessarily bad, and can even be good!
-letting go isn't necessarily giving up
-rainy days are perfect for listening to jazz :)
-jazz is best when heard live
-how to combine various leftover foods and create a meal
-morning showers can help wake you up
-5am doesn't feel so late when you're with friends :)
-coffee gives me a stomachache even if i eat something with it
-a vanilla bean latte from second cup will do the trick when i'm tired ;)
-every time you return home, things change ever so slightly
-waterloo is AWESOME during the weekends when you're hanging out with friends
-itis naps are sooo good
-sunday afternoon naps are even better
-i'm more motivated to study when others around me are doing the same
-i like being with people more than being by myself
-jamming with friends can give you the chills
-videos can never fully capture a moment
-sometimes you gotta pay the price of pain for beauty (re: pointy-toed heels)
-how to play basic guitar!(muchos gracias jlau)
-when you're done, you don't feel done
-textbooks can actually be useful, post-grad
-time is so short, and goes by in the blink of an eye
-how to be open with bodily functions
-staying up makes you do crazy weird things you'd never think about doing during the daytime
-how to accept my alter-ego,Batman
-how to play dress-up
-closeness between friends can change drastically within the course of a year
-what Acts 2 community is all about
-chick flicks are not so good for the emotional health and thoughts
-how to be more on time
-integrity and keeping your word is really important in trusting someone
-music therapy was not what i had originally thought it to be
-how to become a leader in various aspects of my life
-drinking is overrated; i don't see how it can taste good to people
-steak and mashed potatoes, and ice cream are the perfect comfort foods
-sobey's is the answer to all late-night cravings
-prayer shouldn't be the 'last resort' after you've exhausted all other possible solutions
-how God can carry me through times of fear
-fear can be disabling
-the importance of serving
-it's okay to talk to strangers
-the thought (and/or effort) truly means more and communicates more loudly than anything else
-you really make friends for life in university
-neocitran and sleep can prevent colds!!
-it's the small things that count, and the simplest things can hold the most meaning
-academic excellence can be a strong testimony to others around you
-playing music can express what i cannot put into words
-taking walks and fresh air can calm you when you feel lost inside
-the potential dangers of having a credit card
-what unconditional love can look like
-how to love LCCF as my 2nd family
-how to miss and cherish my parents
-how to be more spontaneous
-parents have a huge impact on how their kids will turn out, and makes me worried about being a parent someday
-the easy way out isn't always the best way to go
-sometimes God will be silent
-the unexpected can be better than the expected..
-to be bolder and step out of my comfort zone

i am not the same person i was when i first set foot in Waterloo 4 years ago, and all the credit goes to my Lord, who carried me through academic struggles and homesickness, and provided me with the most supportive family i have ever known--LCCF. He has blessed me immensely through these brothers and sisters, and if not for their love and patience, i would not be standing where i am now. so thank you, thank you, thank you. you guys will be in my thoughts and prayers always<3