Half-way Relfection

1. A skill that I'm still trying to perfect, is avoiding the desire to procrastinate. I'm confident enough to admit I'm a fairly lazy person when it comes to online classes, especially when I have class every morning and work right after that in the afternoons. That being said, I've started checking what assignments are due for this class much earlier in the week; this way I'll at least be able to judge how much time I need to put aside later in the week to complete the assignments.

This behavior has consequently made me more aware of my other classes as well. I'd say that I'm overall much more on top of my school work than previous semesters; I feel like I'm on canvas 24/7.

2. This semester has been rough, to say the least. In my major (construction management) it's arguably the easiest semester based on course load. Unfortunately I've decided to take on more personal challenges to add to my plate: a new job, a new girlfriend, and family issues I can't help soothe since I'm away from home. All of this aside, I think I'm developing a stronger backbone. I wanted to quit about two weeks ago, every little stress seemed to weigh on me.

What got me through it all wasn't something magical, or anything exceedingly special. In fact it was just a memory, just a realization; something I just had to take for what it was. Life isn't easy, it isn't fair. For as hard and as irritable as my life in that moment felt, I remembered how lucky I am to be able to have the chance to make it better. I reflected on my stresses, and can to the conclusion I should feel happy to even having those kind of stresses; that they're ones I can change/manage.

3. Three tips to develop a tenacious mindset? That's almost laughable, since I feel like most people develop that mindset not because they're trying to, but because they had to.

• I'd tell them to not be afraid of a challenge. A person is defined by the risks they take, knowing full well they might fail. 
• I'd tell them to sharpen their social awareness. Knowing how to respond to different personalities will allow you to control a conversation and build trust with different types of individuals.
• I'd tell them to take a moment to relax. There are a lot of different stresses and obstacles in the world, but there are just as many solutions; you won't be able to move forward to find those solutions without a clear head.