Last updated on September 26, 2019
This post is written by Linda Simington, a spring student blogger and Eastfield College Social Work student.
Time to get up! It’s 5:40 a.m. I looked over at my little 2.5-pound weights in the corner and pushed myself to do a quick warm-up with them before my walk. Gulped half a glass of my special concoction “green” drink and got on my way out the door. I usually don’t walk every morning, but this semester I’m taking a PHED class, so I walk almost every day with two other ladies from Eastfield and let me tell you, it’s a great feeling and gives me peace of mind that I am doing something positive for my health. It’s just a great feeling being out there, period. We also have to participate in a 5K Run as part of the class so I definitely want to be in better shape before the race, which is next month.
On this particular day out on the Eastfield track at 7:45 a.m. with my two friends, it looked like rain. Sprinkles. Who would let sprinkles stop them? Not me. I laugh at sprinkles. And not Rocky Balboa. Da, da, daaaa …. Da, da, daaa. You know the music. Who hasn’t walked or run and not thought of the theme music to that movie? But the rain held off and we got in a few laps walking and trotting, walking and trotting. Afterward, I felt wide awake, refreshed, motivated, and ready for the world! Even on my ride home, I felt really good. But I had to get home and use those imaginary punching gloves for hitting the books.
At home about 9:40 a.m. and back down to earth, I tried to funnel some of that energy towards my studies. Biology test tomorrow and another test the day after that. Rocky music still playing in my head, I buckled up to the long session of studying and homework I had ahead of me. I am usually a part-time student but these last two semesters I got impatient and decided to crank it up and go full-time. Challenging, but I try to keep it positive and take one day at a time.
I had an errand to run at 1:30 p.m. and my stomach let me know it needed sustenance. I don’t like taking long breaks because I run the risk of being sidetracked and lose my place in the “zone.” I sometimes have to really push myself to get back to where I left off mentally. However, by a little after 3 p.m. it was on as I buried my head in my books and lost myself to the lessons on my laptop.
The rest of the day (usually after 6 or 7 p.m.), my time is spent gardening, or volunteering, doing housework and on occasion, hanging with friends. I know it may sound boring to some, but it isn’t. School is a big part of my life right now and I love learning. Each day is different in some way and challenging. But as each challenge is overcome, they serve as confidence building blocks.
Before bed I am exhausted, but happy. It’s nice to find that inner peace doing what’s interesting to me, what makes me feel alive. The moral of this story, boys and girls, is – as someone wise once told me – “Linda, no matter what anyone else says, if it doesn’t put a smile on your face and in your heart, then don’t do it.”
My rewards may not always be immediate but I am truly grateful that I was able to have another remarkable day in my life doing the things that I love.
More Information
- Find out more about Social Work at Eastfield College.
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- See all DCCCD degrees and certificate options.
***Read past student blogger posts, and stay tuned for more from our spring student bloggers throughout the semester.