No. Ten - Survival Guide

It feels great to be pretty much done with my first semester of college! I had no idea what to expect but I have learned so much in such a short time. For the next batch of freshmen, I would definitely advise them to use their time wisely. Being away from home and having complete control over you schedule is definitely a priviledge. The ways you choose to spend your time affects every area of your life; everything from your school work, social life, and personal time. I would also advise them to experience all that they can. USC has so many great things to offer! Joining clubs, volunteering, attending athletic events and other activities really do make a difference. They all help to ease the stress school causes and are good places to meet new people. Most importantly, as new freshmen pay close attention to how you are evolving. College definitely changes people. Just make sure your changes are for the best!

No. Nine - To Do List

1. Study Abroad
2. Attend Every Home Game One Year
3. Give Blood
4. Take Summer Courses
5. Create A Club
6. Rock Climb At Strom
7. Apply To The Business School - Dual Degree
8. Intern In Another State
9. Meet President Pastides
10. Have My Own Radio Show

Before I graduate in the next couple of years, those are a few things that I would like to accomplish. They all center around school which may make them fairly easy to get done. In order to complete these task, I definitely have to focus and prioritize. They also require a great deal of time, so scheduling them accordingly in order to be sucessful.

No. Eight - Studying Abroad

If I could study abroad anywhere in the world. It would definitely be Cape Town. Cape Town has become my number one choice because I am so intrigued with their culture. I have a few friends that have visited before and they bring back such good stories. Although Cape Town is the city that catches my attention the most, I would love to study abroad anywhere in Africa. A few of the main reasons are because of the wildlife there, their traditions, and to experience new things. I think it would be difficult to find something to study that correlates with my major but I would like to focus on their culture and how it has transformed into such a huge metropolitan city.

So far, I haven't looked too closely into studying abroad but I am eager to find a program that will get me to Cape Town!

No. Seven - Career Research

Considering that I plan on working in the field of Public Relations, my career research on advertising hasn't shed much light or altered my opinion in anyway. However, the more I come across about advertising, I find myself comparing it to PR and finding ways that they are able to work together. In a sense, they could very well go hand in hand; the public's interaction and response works as the basis and foundation of both of these fields. In a nutshell,  I have learned that it serves as a way to indirectly work with people, yet influence them at the same time. The research I have done has definitely made me a bit more interested in advertising and I may even decide to declare it as my minor.

No. Six

Considering that I've had a fair amount of time to adjust to college life, I have been cornered with a few things that completely stress me out. Of course I've put my school work above all but that has definitely gotten me stuck socially. I haven't been able to find a balance between the two. I am sure there is some sort of medium in which they can both fit but I have yet to stretch myself to find out. I don't mind just sticking with my work but after a while, its gets boring! So far, I've tried to mix my social life with my academics and it appears to be working; instead of just going out, my friends and I study together. The only problem there is that I don't seem to be meeting anyone new. I've weighed a few options to fixing my problem and the only reasonable one would be to complete all of my work during the week and dedicating my weekends to trying new things, meeting new people, creating memories and experiences. I am sure that is generally how it should work but everything has been up in the air lately. Balance is my goal and clearly the one thing that may make my load of stress a bit lighter. 

No. Five - Quotes

My favorite quote/saying would simply be that "silence is golden." It is my favorite because I generally view myself as being quiet and  it's so easy to relate to many other things. Through silence, actions have a chance to speak. It is far more easier to appreciate seeing something being done than just merely hearing and speaking of it.

I apply this quote daily through observing. I learn so much about things and people through the manner in which they do things, how they carry themselves, their body language, and their reactions without even saying a word.  It allows me to take in my environment and reach a level of comfort before I feel the need to speak. 

No. Four

Dear Self, 

        By now, you should be comfortable with life. You should be happy,  well established, secure, and still evolving. Although I am sure you are all of those things, I'd hate for you to be content and completely satisfied. My aim for you is to continue to learn, experience, and strive to become a better you. You should be well traveled and have a broader perspective on different ways of life; seeing the world is essential and your travel experiences should help cultivate and frame the person you are. You should be proud of the person you have become, in the most modest manner. I hope that your genuine, gentle, and quiet spirit is still in place. I hope that you have not allowed anything or anyone to directly cause you to question your ability, knowledge, or beliefs in such a way that makes you feel inferior. You should be in complete control of your life and creating as you go. 

                                                                                                       Love, 

                                                                                                       Sterling 

In the future I see myself as being the best I can possibly be. Although I am unable to tell the future or even lay it out completely, I would like to be on the right track. I would like to be confident and settled within my career and important life choices. I've been extremely vague because I am still unsure about where exactly I would like to see myself in the future. I feel as though I am still figuring many things out and learning more and more about myself each day, especially since I've been in college. 

I've written my letter so that it would apply to any point in my life if I ever choose to alter my path. In order to get to the point I have written about, I am planning to continue to shape myself as a human being in the midst of influence and adversity I experience everyday.