Kayla looks back on her life and she has some lessons that she wants to share with you before she graduates. Her guiding theme last Fall was “Let God Take the Wheel.” This was not her theme because she was particularly religious, but this theme resonated with her because it spoke to how she learned the hard way about the many things were outside of her control, and about those things that were in her control which she may have taken for granted. Click Here for Kayla’s Past Posts.
As a child I grew up in reverse. I allowed my parent’s lifestyle to guide mine. Their lifestyle was and is the family business, so I allowed my lifestyle to be structured around the family business. Their lifestyle was taking care of their parents, so I allowed my lifestyle to be structured around helping take care of my grandparents. Their social life lacked, so I allowed my social life to lack. I was a child, and now as a young adult reflecting, I have learned and I want to share:
1) Lead your own lifestyle.
2) Take care of yourself: eat healthy, exercise, and go to the doctor.
3) Think about the type of social life you want/would want.
I decided to get my feet wet early. As a child, watching my parents work influenced me to want to work. My first job, as a cashier, was what I thought would be my last job. What had been a constant routine, helping take care of my grandparents, was what I thought would be my lifelong career. What had been a lacking social life was what I thought would be a permanent problem. Apparently, it was time for a wake up call. I have learned and I want to share:
1) Do not limit yourself to one job .
2) Take some time to really explore different fields.
3) Find someone who is similar to you.
Once I got my feet wet, next was to get soaked. I had worked so hard to keep a job where I thought I could move up. I had worked so hard to prepare for what I thought would be my lifelong career and I worked so hard to only realize that I was not having any fun. I got a big smack in the face; another wake up call, and from that smack in the face I learned and I want to share:
1) A dead end means getting back up to move forward; try a different job .
2) Find what interests YOU to move forward; take classes from a variety of majors.
3) When you feel overworked, move forward, have some fun, and then try again.
Getting soaked helped me move forward. After trials of different tasks at my family’s business, I moved forward to another job. After trials of preparing for becoming a nurse, I moved forward to UAlbany and enrolled in different classes from a variety of majors. After trials of all working and no playing, I moved forward by accepting to enjoy the fun in life. From finding ways to move forward, I have learned and I want to share:
1) New experiences and new relationships come with a new job
2) Changing your environment and learning new concepts can help redefine your interests.
3) Accepting and having fun is one of the best ways to keep moving forward.
Life is a challenge. For any UAlbany student who is reading this, do not give up. If you appreciate the lessons I have learned and shared, please use them to your advantage. Know you are not alone at this time in your life. Lead your own lifestyle, get some experience (learn from it), work hard, and keep moving forward. Whenever you feel uncertain, stressed, or anxious: stop, step back and. . .
Let God take The Wheel
Here are some tools that may help you to move forward:
Academic and Career Tools:
- Office of Career and Professional Development
- Advising PLUS – Your one-stop-shop to point you to tutoring and academic support services across campus.
- The Academic Support Center (Formerly, the Advisement Services Center)
- Leadership Opportunities
- Community and Public Service Opportunities
- Global Opportunities
Personal Growth
- Student Groups and Organizations on Campus
- Counseling and Psychological Services
- The Advocacy Center for Sexual Violence
Please Note: The views of our student bloggers do not necessarily reflect the views of the UAlbany Advisement Services Center. These are their stories and their voices.
About the Author:
UAlbany Project MyStory 
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