Things I've Learned; My Gap Year at a Glance

If there's anything I can take away from this year off, it's these few facts of life I've learned:

1. Being alone does not bring one peace any more than being in a crowd gives one pleasure. There is prosperity in having a number of friends you can count on one hand. And even though one may not see them all the time, as high school has generously granted, solitude allows one to see truth, perceive honesty, and realize what it means to be blessed.

2. We are all in the same boat, regardless if we are educated or not. In fact, whether or not we choose to partake in higher education or get a job right away, we are all sifting like sand through the ocean trying to find the right wave and pace through the sound that feels best to us. We're all a little selfish. We all need love. We all crave that ultimate knowledge of faith and love. Nobody is better than the other; our life credentials have nothing to do with what is written on our resume. It is all part of a bigger picture, part of our story.

3. Life can be simple, though it is difficult. And in that centre we can find contentment. A lot of people lie to get to the top. A lot of people have heart and passion and that's what gets them to the top. It's all perspective.

4. Coffee is magical. Starbucks changed my life. Being a barista became my musical theatre opportunity, and it's better than I ever thought it would be. I've learned most of what I know about people and interactions and body language behind an espresso machine.

5. Family isn't always blood. Friends are not always there. Love always is. Bitterness is a wall people hide behind. Lies are a divergence created to fill the soul with what one cannot access on their own. Honesty both breaks and restores. Life goes on regardless if we want it to or not.