"Your People"

We all know the saying, "You are who you hang out with".

If I had one piece of advice for all the freshmen flooding campus, it would be:

Find Your People

 

Finding "your people" is all about finding those unique relationships, the ones that push you to become better and you grow from. These are the people you find yourself to have a "deep connection with". (And no, by "deep connection" I don't mean love (I mean it's possible) but what I mean is you and this other person have a certain spark, that your other relationships don't have.)

By surrounding yourself with successful, motivated, driven people, you too will begin to gain speed within your endeavors. They push you, like you push them.

So for all you freshmen out there who want to walk away with your dream career or want to become a leader on campus, it's  time to create a team of "Your People" here is a list of People Types that will make you the best version of yourself you can be:

The Mom- This is the peer who is your support system. More than likely this is a best friend or roommate (if you got lucky). The person who you can call when you flunk a biology test or just can't handle a group project. They should be your #1 fan and understanding, but shouldn't sugarcoat (just like any good mom). This person should be able to walk you through a logical system to solve the problem you face, give you their support and tools, and smile at you when it is all over. But be warned, you must learn to not lean too much on this person. In the end, you need to learn how to thrive on your own. Hopefully you will gain The Mom's ability to somehow "get it all done" and still be there for you, an important lesson to learn especially when you become The Mom to another.

Qualities to look for in The Mom-

• Supportive
• Great time management skills
• Not a perfectionist
• Good Communicator
• Can see the big picture

The Clown- This is the peer who doesn't let life get them down. That person who can make you laugh and you feel like you need them on those bad days. But don't let The Clown  fool you. They are still a leader, but unlike you, they remember to have fun. To reach your goals, you have to take care of you. Don't forget that! So spend some time with The Clown  laughing at a night out or while watching Ted in your dorm you. The Clown  is the person who brings you back down to earth and reminds you, "Life is supposed to be fun".

Qualities to look for in The Clown-

• Down to earth
• Grades aren't the "be all, end all"
• Optimistic
• Reliable
• Give good hugs

The Mentor- Now pay attention, The Mentor  is "in my opinion" a very tricky person to find, but they are IMPORTANT. I encourage you to seek a mentor who would otherwise be out of your relationship comfort zone. You should look up to this person (maybe literally) and find within them attributes that you are lacking. In all, that is what a mentor is. A person who can guide you in ways that you can not guide yourself. They are not there to be like The Mom who comforts and they are not like The Clown  who would rather just laugh things off. This is the person that you know will not be afraid to lead you in the right direction, even if it means making you cry (which trust me I have left my mentor and cried in my dorm multiple times). But remember, The Mentor is not the bad guy. They are just as invested in your success as you are and most of the time they are older so probably therefore have  lived some of the choices you are making.  They just want what's best for you.

Qualities of The Mentor-

• Forward
• Opinionated
• Leader
• Experienced
• A realist

So how do you find the "right mentor?"
        -That my friends is unknown. You will ultimately fall into the right mentor for you and you won't even realize that it happened. Just keep your eyes and ears open.

Yourself- Now you would think that "Yourself" would be a give-in on the list of "Your People" but often this is where we all lack. Everyone believes in us, but we don't believe in ourselves. No matter how much The Mentor  tells you right from wrong, The Mom  gives you a shoulder to lean on, and The Clown wipes away your tears, you won't be successful in whatever you do unless you are on your own team. If you don't believe in yourself and GLOW WITH CONFIDENCE, then everyone around you (even "Your People") will start to not believe in you either (as horrible as that sounds).

Qualities of Yourself-

• Just be yourself and believe in yourself

So to all my freshmen out there dying to make a name for themselves, GO FIND YOUR PEOPLE. They will be your greatest asset on your journey to greatness and achieving your dreams.

 

 

Best Wishes,

 

Meredith