TOWSON, Md. - Last week as a part of the Landmark Conference's Juniata College takeover, alumni, Natalie Gibson, wrote to her 18-year-old self as a part of the Landmark Conference Alumni Feature series.
Dear 18-year-old self,
I am writing this as a 23-year-old in the first year of law school (somewhere you never imagined you would be) in the middle of a pandemic (something you never thought would happen). This spring will be your second year out of college. Last year, you went back to be an assistant coach for a team you never thought you would play on. Through this, you learned certain lessons that you REALLY could've used when you started college.
- Never play the one-up game. When Becky says she stayed up until 1:00 a.m. and was so exhausted, instead of quickly telling her how she couldn't really be THAT tired because you stayed up until 2:00 A.M. and had a lift at SEVEN and woke up THREE times during the night - swallow that incessant need to one-up and say, "Wow, that sucks, I'm really sorry." When someone tells you they recently curled 25-pound dumbbells at the gym, instead of reminding them about when YOU accomplished that goal SOOO long ago, try saying, "That is awesome, congratulations!" The amount of time playing the one-up game is time you will never get back. Breaking this habit makes YOU feel better and opens up doors for compassion, empathy, and support that you can't reach when focusing on how to beat your companion.
- It's okay to be wrong. Growth doesn't come from defending your own actions/opinions blindly, ignoring someone else's point, or burying your head in the sand. Acknowledging when you're wrong allows you to self-reflect, adjust, and move forward. This process is something to embrace and not something to be ashamed of!
- Be reliable. If you say you're going to do something, do it. People rely on your word, your actions, and your contribution. The people relying on you don't care whether your alarm didn't go off or if you had something else come up- They care that you're not where you said you would be. Holding yourself accountable to your commitments makes your words have meaning. When your words have meaning, people can trust you with more responsibility and bigger tasks- which could end up on a resume or law school application!
I wish you luck, and I hope you have a great rest of your four years. Enjoy your friends, your team, and your time on campus. Preserve the feeling of being able to be within six ft of people you know and love - in a few years, that won't be so normal!!
