Reflections from Journal Entry 1 on May 28, 2025

Hi there! My name is Christy, and I’m a senior majoring in Sociology. I’m super excited to be wrapping up my college journey with classes that really speak to who I am and what I care about. Outside of school, I love baking (especially trying new sourdough recipes), hiking in nature, and spending quality time with my family, friends, and three lovable pets. I’m also a big fan of simple things like a cozy night in watching a good movie or a good heart to heart chat with a cuppa tea or coffee.

One quality I truly value in all my relationships is authenticity; seriously, just being real with one another. Life is way too short for fake smiles and surface-level talk. When people can be themselves flaws, quirks, and all, it builds trust, comfort, and a deep connection. To me, being authentic means feeling safe enough to say, “Hey, this is who I really am,” and knowing the people around you will accept and support that.

A recent moment that really reminded me of how powerful this quality is, happened with my mom’s best friend. She’s someone who has always been genuine and open with us, and because of that, she felt comfortable sharing something personal. She told us she was feeling forgetful and asked if we’d noticed her repeating things in conversation. It wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable, truly, it was us just being honest with one another. Her openness helped start a meaningful conversation and even led her to schedule an MRI to check things out. That moment reminded me how much better life is when we’re not pretending to be fine…we can actually help each other.

So, here’s my take: if we can’t be real with the people closest to us, we’re missing out on the very best parts of life, right? And what are those best parts? I think they are connection, growth, and a whole lot of love.