How do you measure a year?-Part 1

In Rent, the cast sings these words: "How do you measure,  measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you 
measure a year in the life? How about love?"

These words are particularly poignant as I write this post, since my 22nd birthday just ended. It's been just over a year since I started blogging for Terp Impact, and that, plus my birthday, and the fact that I'm graduating in May have made me rather reflective lately. So, here are some lessons connecting to these lyrics that I've learned over the past year (or so), which you can relate to civic engagement and leadership.

In daylights: The day is so much longer than we realize sometimes. As college students, it's tempting to wake up at 11, go to class for a few hours, take a long nap, and then stay up all night. However, if you arrange your schedule to be awake the whole day (and just sleep at night--so hard, I know!) you'll find that you have much more time than you thought otherwise! Use those daylight hours to volunteer somewhere nearby--check out En Camino, the Boys and Girls Club, or Martha's Table.

In sunsets: Take a moment to stop whenever you notice the sun going down (or up!). Having a few moments like these spaced throughout your day allows you to stop and recognize where you are in the larger picture of life. 

In midnights: While I just advocated sleeping at night (any adults reading this are going to be quite confused by college students' odd sleeping patterns), I also advocate those late nights staying up and laughing with friends. Yes, your papers are calling your name, but that won't be what you remember when college ends. The best times are those spent laughing with friends over absolutely nothing. Don't be afraid to be sleep deprived in order to enjoy those moments. They're worth it.

In cups of coffee: Coffee is a necessity. 'Nuff said. But do you know about how your coffee is grown and processed? Do some research on Fair Trade Coffee and see how you can support coffee bean farmers instead of huge multinational companies with every cup of java you drink. Here's a site with a short and sweet FAQ: http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/coffee/background.html