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Junior Goals

I'm halfway through my undergrad. WHAT. When did that happen?? The older I get, the faster time seems to move. I think it's important to take time to reflect on lessons learned in the past as well as think about any future goals because that's how you grow and mature as a person.  I don't want to stay stagnant; I desire to see growth in all areas of my life!  I've typed up a simple list of goals for my junior year and plan to revisit them frequently. It'll be a sort of accountability for me, and I'm excited to see how God uses these goals to glorify Him.

1. Be approachable and available. I come across as being a bit closed off, usually because I'm not the life of the party or super great at small talk. I'm reserved and really don't feel the need to keep conversation constantly flowing. When I talk, it usually has a purpose. However, this can come across as being uninterested or disengaged. I must learn to be an approachable friend so that people know I love them. I want to have meaningful, deep relationships with others. I want people to know that when they talk to me, I'm intently listening and care about what they are saying. I want people to feel like when I'm with them, I am fully present. Not on my phone. Not in a daydream. Not thinking my own thoughts. I care deeply about my friends, their needs, their joys, and their struggles, and I must show them that in the way I talk and act.

2. Confidence is key. I struggle with my confidence level probably as much as any other college student. I question my ability to lead, I wonder why people like (or don't like) me, I think I have to act a certain way to get someone's attention, I overanalyze my God-given skills and talents. Let's just say I could use a boost in the confidence department every now and then. This year, I am going to remind myself continually that my identity comes from being a child of God, not from being a Baylor student, a CF patient, a young adult, a phi lamb member, or any other "hat" I can put on. God loves me, and I don't need any other assurance in life.

3. Keep up the good work in school. Okay, so it wouldn't be a blog on my goals for junior year if I didn't mention school just once. I know school isn't everything, and grades (while important) are not the totality of the world, yet I am incredibly driven to do my best in all my classes. I feel great when I get an "A" on a paper or test I worked hard on, and that pushes me to succeed. I am not a procrastinator, have never pulled an all-nighter, and feel comfortable about where I am in my education thus far. So, I plan on continuing that standard of excellence I have placed on myself.

4. No matter what happens this year, I want to glorify God with my life. I desire to praise Him in all circumstances. Life is weird and chaotic and unexpected, but through it all, I know God is my strength and my stability--He will never leave my side. I want my love for God to become more and more evident in my daily life and interactions with others this year.

5. Stay informed with all things CF. There's so much excitement around CF research currently. The possibility of a cure is within reach; it gives me chills thinking about it. Because there's so much hype around medical research, I must stay correctly informed about the new advancements of research, qualifications for study participants, and the overall mechanics of new drugs. I have GOT to stay in the loop, partially to satisfy my own curiosity and partially so that I can be one of the first to jump in to safe, effective, and potentially curing therapies with both feet. The future of CF is changing before our very eyes, and I don't want to miss a single second of it.

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