Thank You, Next
If you don’t know the title, it’s okay. Arianna Grande recently came out with a song about what she is thankful for and what those things taught her. Since it’s Thanksgiving, it seems like a good time to reflect on my own life. I had so many new experiences, new opportunities and new challenges in 2018. I am so very grateful for so many things, here are a just a few.
My job(s). I am so blessed to continue my dance career by teaching for the past few years. I teach almost 150 kids, and that’s less than previous years! I have learned over the years that what you say and do as an instructor can shape the way a dance feels and moves. I also know I can affect a child, and I take this responsibility very seriously. It doesn’t matter if I’ve had a busy or stressful day and I am not at my prime for the day, when all those eyes are looking at me to lead and guide them, it’s not just dance they’re learning from me. It’s the way I carry myself, the way I react to others, the way I give and take criticism. Dance instructors are far more impactful than we ever know.
I also serve in one of THE BUSIEST Nebraska bars in the Haymarket on game day. Working at NZone has taught me many things, much like Arianna’s song. Love, patience and pain. Sounds dramatic, but it’s true. I have grown to love working in such a fast paced bar/restaurant. I truly don’t think I would gain that experience anywhere else. I have gained patience from teaching little kids dance, but nothing prepared me for drunk idiots after a Husker win (or loss…). I have learned to take things with a grain of salt and have become very adaptable in the work place. Lastly, let me tell you, I have experienced pain in this job, usually from working 12+ hour shifts.
As if those two jobs didn’t keep me busy enough, I also run the social media for The NZone, Chamberlain’s and a class I am in that has a very active social media presence. I never thought that I would have a knack for running social media accounts, but what can I say, it’s really grown on me and I’m doing okay! When I knew this was something I was interested in exploring as a career I approached the owners of The NZone and told them I wanted to take over their accounts, they gave me permission and have let me run with it. It’s been a great learning experience and definitely helps me with the resume and gives me material to discuss in an interview.
Ability to travel. Europe always seemed like this far away place I would never be able to travel to. I am so thankful I have such a supportive family that encouraged me to study abroad. I dreamt of studying abroad since high school and at 21 I was able to travel to my number one bucket list country. See prior blog posts for my Europe experiences!
Family and Friends. This one is what I am most thankful for. I would be so lost without the people I am surrounded by. As I have gotten older I have found who matters most to me and they are my rock. I have a very close family, we do a lot together. My parents and my sister are some of the best, which is probably why it’s not too hard to live at home at 21. We have a mutually respectful relationship, but we also have a lot of fun together. My sister is younger but I look up to her in a lot of ways and I think that makes our relationship one of a kind. My extended family is also close and I’m so lucky to have such fantastic grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins! I have the best friends a girl could hope for, some of them I’ve known since 4th grade! I have met so many great people at UNL and my circle just keeps getting bigger and I love that!
While reflecting on 2018, I realize I have so many things to be thankful for and so many new things to appreciate. Life just keeps getting better thanks to everyone who has a part in my wonderful journey!
thank you, next.
Tristen
