Cecilia's Blog

Lesson Number 1: You’ll never know unless you try

I know, you have heard it before, read it in posters, books, motivational speeches, and products, over and over. I have, too–But I’ve found much truth in this often heard phrase.

I have come to realize that I wouldn’t have many of the things I have in my life today if it wasn’t for the sometimes-very scary and tough act of simply TRYING (sometimes more than once).

I wouldn’t be where I am today, here, at The University of Texas at Austin--1,524.92 miles away from my family.

Fall of my Senior Year at T.C. Williams High School (Remember The Titans, anyone?)….

“I will never get in,”

“We would never be able to afford it”

“It is so far away”

Despite wanting it so much, despite my academic records and extensive list of involvement outside of school I never thought UT would be a possibility. In addition, my family’s lack of financial resources would make it almost impossible for me to attend an out of state institution. Aside from that, thinking about being so far away from my parents, who I am extremely close to, and who I was never apart from, was already a scary-tear-provoking thought. But, I kept hearing that phrase in the back of my mind, I would never know unless I gave it a try…I applied, but without ever expecting the letter every high school senior waits for which includes a “Congratulations!” within its first three lines.

Everyday as we got closer to March, I would constantly check my www.bealonghorn.com account to see if a decision had been made. It was the night of March 21st, I logged in, just as any other day…but there it was… a decision had been made about my application. I told my mom over to the computer desk, I stared closely at the screen, and never before had I been so hesitant about clicking on an internet link, I was scared. This link, would quite literally decide the next four years of my life. I closed my eyes, counted down to three… I clicked… and there it was… I had been accepted to the College of Liberal Arts as a Government major, my first choice.

I was in complete shock, I cried, I laughed, I jumped up and down, hugged my mom- I immediately called my dad, who was still at work, and gave him the news: I WAS GOING TO COLLEGE, I was going to The University of Texas at Austin, I was officially a Longhorn.

Five months thereafter, I would be the very first in my family to attend college. The dream that my parents and I packed in our suitcases when we emigrated Uruguay, was now on its way to becoming a reality.

But how does this pertain to my PRESENT? One month into my third year at UT?

Of course, I wouldn’t be at UT if I would not have even tried to apply. But aside from that I wouldn’t have gained much of what college has given me… this may just be a sneak peak into part of what you will find out through my blogs.

-I have learned the true meaning of FRIENDSHIPS and have built some of the stronger relationships I have ever had in my 19 years of life (friends from high school remain close to our hearts, but I have found something particular about the friendships I have made in college)

-I am having the opportunity, every day, to learn from and be surrounded by individuals from all walks of life, backgrounds, and perspectives on life. And that, to me, is truly priceless.

-I have grown not only academically, but tremendously as an individual- I have learned much about myself that I did not know before. College, in a way, has allowed me to be myself.

-I have developed as a leader at school and in my community

-I have found a passion towards helping others, no matter when, what, or how.

-Being away from home…while scary at first (trust me, my first day at UT, arriving without my parents, standing outside of Jester Residence Hall, moving in, is still a clear image in my mind…thinking “wow, I really AM on my own”…but then coming to realize that there were so many others who would become my family, here, too) has lead me to value and treasure my time with my family much more than ever before.

And last, but definitely not least, if I wouldn’t have tried, I would not be blogging for Longhorn Confidential today! I applied to become a student blogger in the fall of my sophomore year but did not make it through. When the opportunity came to apply once again this year, I thought… “I won’t know unless I try again” (sometimes, you see, you have to try more than once, learn from what may not have worked, and take the challenge!)… and here I am, really excited and grateful to have this opportunity to share my experiences with you.

I look forward to what’s ahead … hoping that you, too are looking forward to hearing about my road through my third year at UT :]

So I can’t say it enough- if you want something, if you are passionate towards something, go for it! Give it a try, don’t be afraid of what the results may be…in the end, you will look back and regardless of the outcomes, you can say that at least, if anything, you tried, instead of living your life spending time wondering what it could have been like if you would have.