I grew up in a small town in north-central Alabama called Hazel Green. Growing up I always loved school, my friends and going to church. Advancing on to middle school and high school years, I met some of my best friends that I will have for a lifetime, one of whom is currently my roommate and will be until I graduate. These group of friends are beneficial to my life because they are essentially who helped me find my “niche.” I loved my small-town life, but I always knew the world was a much bigger place, and I strived to do anything in my will that would allow me to reach to the ends of the Earth.
Finding your place in life is one of the most challenging, yet most satisfying things you can ever do. To know you belong to a group of people who nurture you, support you and most importantly, love you, is a huge self-success. Whenever I started applying to colleges I stressed over how I was going to fit in because I knew I wanted to move away from home and everything I’ve ever known from Hazel Green. Stressed yet determined, I did some soul searching and not just your average oh “Who am I?” “What interests me?” or “What makes me happy?” type of search, but more of the approach of “What can I do to make the most of my time in college?” and “Who can I surround myself with that will give me that positive and influential environment?”
Finding yourself is the answer to these questions, but most importantly it is about how your life, passions, necessities and priorities line up with the world around you. There is no need to stress about knowing whether you belong because you do. I struggled for many years finding this said “niche.”
I went from playing baseball at a very early age up until I could almost drive alone, and something never seemed complete about it. I repeated this process many a time with just about any sport you can think of, and something always seemed missing to me. I raced through many moments in my life and looking back on it, I’m super glad I never settled down because if I did I quite possibly could have never found out that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I am at the best college anyone could ask for with a faculty who cares about their student’s success, I am surrounded by a tight knit friend group who constantly boosts me up when I am down, and most importantly I have found that special place in my life. The place that brings me happiness, light, and the feeling that keeps me going on days when the going gets tough.
To anyone who is struggling with finding your niche, this is for you. Never rush things. Never say never, and never turn down opportunities because whether you believe it or not, opening doors to the unknown and seeing where they lead to is much better than walking past and not having any experience at all. Do some soul searching and find what drives you to be a better person. Once you discover that passion, the world is yours. Seize it and make it the way you envision it.
Connor Baker is a freshman majoring in Business. His column runs biweekly.
