Home for Spring Break and I have eleven beautiful days ahead of me to do ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING besides studying and homework! Everyone is posting about being done with senior year of college, I have one more quarter and that's it. I can't believe it.

Today while driving home I kept thinking to myself. "Whit, I think this is the first time in like ever where you're going home for spring break and not stressed about what your grades are going to be."

But really. 

And yet, I ask myself, why is so much emphasis put on grades? Sometimes I feel like everything revolves around grades. Like you need to get good grades to go to a good university and you need good grades to go to a good grad school and you need good grades to get your Phd. It goes on and on and on. My psych professor said she pays more for her twins preschool than for her son's college tuition. 

Sometimes I wonder, where do we draw the line? 

I mean I love getting good grades, just like anyone else. And my stress level is so much lower when I get good grades. This quarter I am not only surpassing my goal of getting Dean's List. Pretty sure I am going to end up with a 3.6. And I have NEVER done that well in college before. Yes, I am very proud of myself. 

But at the same time I think it is important to remember that there are even more important things in life than just getting good grades. Yes, of course we need to work hard because that's why we're in school, but there are also so many more things that we are meant to do and accomplish in college. 

Because for the past ten quarters I have thought to myself, "Maybe this quarter Whit, maybe you'll get Dean's list." And it has never happened. This is going to sound dramatic, but we'll go with it. I remember one time in Trinity freshmen year they were having a dean's list banquet in the study lounge. I LIVED in that lounge. I studied my butt off that first quarter of college. I wanted to be at that banquet SO BAD. I remember looking into the room at  all of the students and wishing so badly that I could be there. 

At that moment, I just wish someone would have taken my shoulders, looked at me in the eyes, and just said, "Your value does not come from that, Whit." Of course I knew that. But in that moment, I know I needed the reminder. 

I always work hard in school. School's important to me. And those ten quarters I worked HARD. Dean Bailey likes to tell students that when you work 25-35 hours a week on homework and studying you'll make his list. You know what I want to tell him, "Nope, that doesn't always work." Of course I wouldn't, but everyone is different and school is just not that simple.

 I've learned a lot in my past ten quarters and one thing that I have learned is that none of my value is found in school. So, whether I pass or fail. I am still Whitney Rose. God still loves me just the same. 

I have also learned that it's important to do things that make me happy and give me joy. There is a balance that one needs to find in school. Because going on hikes, going somewhere "beautiful," watching sunsets, giggling, babysitting, TOT NIGHT VIP, running three miles at the gym, laying in the sunshine, and falling asleep at the library are all equally important. As Katie always tells me, "there are more important things in life, like chickens and babies and fun." 

This has been one of the best years at school because I have learned to remember that. Also like Ruth told me sophomore year, "Will this matter in a year?" "Noooo." "And does Jesus still love you?" "Yessss."

And I'll tell you that D I got on that plant biology lab test doesn't matter. And it's been TWO years now ;) 

It's important to remember how beautiful the world is and sometimes we just think calculus is more beautiful because we're stressed about it (I mean that's great if that's your thing) but for the rest of us, it's okay. You don't have to think calculus is beautiful :) 

Go "somewhere beautiful" folks, it makes life that much better :) 

xoxo, 

Whitters