Sunday, March 23, 2014

I've been extremely lazy with writing - about myself at least. After working two internships, both journalism based, It's so routine writing stories that I forget about my own.

I have nothing to complain about regarding my life. It feels like the world has given me a second chance, unfolding all the opportunities I had dreamt of all at the same time. I know that we are given what we deserve at some point in time, I'm glad I have been getting good news from various sources, somewhat helping me restore my faith in the world.

Slowly, but surely, I am getting used to the idea that friends come and go as of convenience. The amount of years of friendship is immaterial to the convenience factor that one must consider. I watch other individuals feeling like friendship doesn't hold the same value as what it once did not too long ago. Have we become too self absorbed, and less sensitive to our duties as friends? If this is the case, I wonder if it will get worse from here. Making time for one another has become a tedious task with the hustle and bustle of every day life, that we forget the important things in life, our loved ones.

Aside from that, I have been prioritizing myself, and my number one goal: Graduation. I have been waiting for this day since I started university here about three years ago now. The end is near, alas, the end is near. I know that many people have to pay for their own education, I was lucky enough to have my father help finance me through my educational journey. Always putting in my best efforts has helped me learn a lot over the last few years, and I am happy that I always asserted my full potential. It's nice seeing the story telling techniques I have learned, and those whom I have met and narrated their stories. It's all a learning process.

I am deeply blessed with everything around me, and will continue to do all that I can and be the best I can be.

:)

Friday, January 17, 2014

"chance favours only the prepared mind"

Today, in my Education 4100 class, my really tall poised professor, addressed the class with an interesting quote by Louis Pasteur:

"Chance favours only the prepared mind."

At first, I was puzzled by this quote, well, what did Pasteur mean, by chance only favouring the prepared mind?

Those individuals that work towards making a future by actively setting goals and taking charge of their life are more likely to coax "chance" to work its charm.

Many people forget that we are responsible for our lives, for the decisions we make and the results that unfold. We can't control all circumstances, but we can make them bearable just by having a brighter outlook.

So, what does chance have to do with anything?

Chance allows us to open our minds to experience, and stimulate possibilities. People that work towards things they aspire to achieve are more likely to encounter favourable situations simply because they applied effort and a positive mind.

Close-mindedness hinders our ability to dream and break boundaries. It confines our abilities in a tiny box, snuffing away the smallest spark of hope to achieve.

The go-getters make it happen, they exemplify the difference between the doers and the slackers.

It dawned on me in class today. This whole theory of chance being stimulated by preparedness and the ability to be open to experience is basically fundamental. Then why don't we all look at life this way and open ourselves up to experiences?

During the Christmas holidays, I sat all the way on the other side of the world applying for internships to fulfil our fourth year requirements of the journalism program, despite being on what was supposed to be a vacation.

Applying for an internship, wasn't my first class choice, but I had to settle for it because it was the only class I could get into - and still be able to gain some work experience that would look good on my resume. After I had lost the little hope that I had (because of a gap of silence between my emails to a couple editors), the beginning of January brought in a flood of optimism - and of course, emails setting up interviews for some internships.

My enthusiasm started to build, and my faith in myself slowly started to restore - I am good, I know I am, now why can't I just seem to remember that?

After persistent emails back and forth to editors, I was finally seeing some results. Why? Because of all the time and effort I put into editing my cover letter and resume and the undying hope that...eventually I would find something - whether it was my first choice or not. I just wanted someone to believe in me, and to take a chance on me.

Finally, I was given that chance.

I prepared for it, I earned it, I worked for it. It was all me...I did it.

It took me a while to see it, but the sum of all my effort and hard work, opened doors to possibilities creating new paths for my future.

I can't help but think how people let a seed of negativity ruin an entire opportunity.

"Chance favours only the prepared mind."

So roll up your sleeves and get to work.