Testimony June 9 2017
Being involved is an amazing way to live. Meeting people, seeing new places, having new experiences, and learning about yourself and the world around you. But what happens when all of that gets boring?
Well my life is boring, and to be honest rather draining as well.
I should likely rephrase that; it is not boring in the least and has not been for a long while, but that is precisely the problem. I am an involved student, in Volleyball, Softball, Aggies, TNT, Student Council, and other activities as they arise during the school year. I love being involved and could not imagine what I would do without all of my groups, but having each of them at the same time can be demanding not only physically but mentally as well. Meetings and duties must be attended and carried out for clubs. There are trips to take part in. Workshops and courses to be taken. Forms to be filled out. It can all be a great deal of information to take in and jobs to have done. Athletics are a huge aspect of my life as well, and as an elite athlete I am expected to be fully committed to my sport. The only issue with that concept is that there is nearly always more than one. Canada Games is on its way, and in two months I will represent my province there at the biggest stage in the country for athletes my age. Training has been active for months now and is only increasing in pace every practice. Coaches demand a certain manic devotion to practices and to our team, which is not always attainable when others are seeking it on top of that. Softball was less of a drive from the coaches but more from teammates and my own self. As the only player with experience playing school ball, the rest of the team counted on me for guidance, and I felt obligated to offer my assistance on the field. Finally school, as always, must be priority and takes place at the top of the ladder. Not only do teachers expect it, but parents naturally expect nothing less. As projects add up and deadlines approach, less and less time can be allotted to anything else, even when it is expected. I have been so busy the last few months that I have lost focus, and had to struggle to simply keep myself on track. This past week I had decided to take a break from volleyball and let my mind have a slight rest for the first time in a long while. This break allowed me to realize something; I have been so absorbed with all of the stresses in my life that I have had no time or energy to be observant of what is around me. World events had gone unnoticed. Slight changes in the aspects of my environment have been the same. And I have spent little to no time with any of the people that I truly care about and wish to be around. Taking a step back from life is the best way to discover these sorts of things, evaluate where your life is taking you, and is a necessary action that not enough of the current population has done or has the time and hope left to do at this point. Rethinking your direction can be stressful, but is necessary to ensure that your journey can continue in a positive direction. Spend more time with the people you want to be surrounded by, rather than the people you feel forced to associate with. Take a moment and let yourself be calm, and look around you at everything wonderful you have been missing. Do not let the blindfold of business and stress take over your whole sense of sight, and never forget that the broad view of life is extraordinarily beautiful when you allow yourself to take a peek.
Jillian Ferguson
Well my life is boring, and to be honest rather draining as well.
I should likely rephrase that; it is not boring in the least and has not been for a long while, but that is precisely the problem. I am an involved student, in Volleyball, Softball, Aggies, TNT, Student Council, and other activities as they arise during the school year. I love being involved and could not imagine what I would do without all of my groups, but having each of them at the same time can be demanding not only physically but mentally as well. Meetings and duties must be attended and carried out for clubs. There are trips to take part in. Workshops and courses to be taken. Forms to be filled out. It can all be a great deal of information to take in and jobs to have done. Athletics are a huge aspect of my life as well, and as an elite athlete I am expected to be fully committed to my sport. The only issue with that concept is that there is nearly always more than one. Canada Games is on its way, and in two months I will represent my province there at the biggest stage in the country for athletes my age. Training has been active for months now and is only increasing in pace every practice. Coaches demand a certain manic devotion to practices and to our team, which is not always attainable when others are seeking it on top of that. Softball was less of a drive from the coaches but more from teammates and my own self. As the only player with experience playing school ball, the rest of the team counted on me for guidance, and I felt obligated to offer my assistance on the field. Finally school, as always, must be priority and takes place at the top of the ladder. Not only do teachers expect it, but parents naturally expect nothing less. As projects add up and deadlines approach, less and less time can be allotted to anything else, even when it is expected. I have been so busy the last few months that I have lost focus, and had to struggle to simply keep myself on track. This past week I had decided to take a break from volleyball and let my mind have a slight rest for the first time in a long while. This break allowed me to realize something; I have been so absorbed with all of the stresses in my life that I have had no time or energy to be observant of what is around me. World events had gone unnoticed. Slight changes in the aspects of my environment have been the same. And I have spent little to no time with any of the people that I truly care about and wish to be around. Taking a step back from life is the best way to discover these sorts of things, evaluate where your life is taking you, and is a necessary action that not enough of the current population has done or has the time and hope left to do at this point. Rethinking your direction can be stressful, but is necessary to ensure that your journey can continue in a positive direction. Spend more time with the people you want to be surrounded by, rather than the people you feel forced to associate with. Take a moment and let yourself be calm, and look around you at everything wonderful you have been missing. Do not let the blindfold of business and stress take over your whole sense of sight, and never forget that the broad view of life is extraordinarily beautiful when you allow yourself to take a peek.
Jillian Ferguson
High expectations in the modern world diminish the ability to enjoy the insignificant aspects of life.