While the act of persevering may seem simple enough on its own, many people may find it easier to define perseverance than actually putting it into practice.

Being able to find a place where you truly belong can be one of the most healing experiences in life. Everyone wants to feel accepted, understood, and connected to something bigger than themselves. Whether it is through friendships, family, a community, or a supportive environment, having a place where we feel welcomed can help us grow and feel more confident in who we are. A lot of the time we underestimate how important our connections with others and ourselves truly are.

As the World Cup comes to a close, it’s worth reflecting on what these past five weeks of intense, communal, worldwide game watching have revealed and taught us. While the tournament ultimately crowns one champion, it also brings together millions of people through a shared passion that transcends languages and cultures. With 48 countries competing for the trophy, the World Cup becomes a celebration of identity and human connection.

Belonging is a deeply rooted, powerful, and authentic human experience. It allows us to feel truly valued and accepted by our peers and loved ones, in a way that feels like we’re “coming home.” For many people, the idea of what belonging means has always been tied to similarity. That means being around a community of people from the same background, culture, or certain beliefs.

Belonging can take on multiple interpretations, but is most recognized as the human need to be valued. This sense of value can derive from a variety of sources, including individuals, groups, communities, and more. While one can receive satisfaction from any form of belonging, one cannot earn the fullest extent of belonging without realizing it.

Motivation is what helps us get through our daily lives, whether that’s getting out of bed, doing homework after school or work, or staying consistent with exercise. However, motivation takes more than just completing a task—it requires mental strength to build and maintain. The good news is that it’s okay to start small. By building positive habits and recognizing what motivates us, we can gradually strengthen our motivation and become more consistent in our everyday lives.

Motivation is often portrayed as something entirely up to the individual, made up of their own discipline, routine, and personal drive. As integral as these are, there is an equally important factor that is often overlooked: connection.

I learned that having positive thoughts is just as powerful as possessing negative ones. The only difference is that one produces peace, while the other emits pain.

While I, and many other students, are excited to enter the summer season, there’s still an air of nervousness that follows. For me specifically, it’s the nervousness of graduating from college. The freedom granted is one I’ve never experienced before. It’s where I can freely move through the world without an academic pursuit. Now, it’s time to find myself and go out into the world.

On a personal level, freedom is not something that can be universally defined. What one person finds freeing could feel constricting to another. When working towards finding personal freedom within our lives, first ask yourself what that means to you.

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is imagine that “crazy” version of life. The one that feels just out of reach, the one we quietly push away because it seems too good, too different, or too uncertain ever to be ours. It’s the life where you are fully aligned, deeply fulfilled, and no longer negotiating with your own happiness. And yet, despite how distant it may feel, that vision often holds who you are meant to become.

Change is necessary and inevitable. Much like our personal lives, nature is unpredictable, yet always finds a way through. Spring is particularly a powerful metaphor for change as we explore a transitional period between the old and new.

When we think of change, it can sound both scary and exciting. While I know from firsthand experience that change can be incredible, I also know how intimidating it can be. Something I believe that everyone should keep in mind is that it is never too late to make a change in your life, whether it’s big or small!

While the nostalgia I feel for the game may be as simple as being a game I played in my youth, there is something deeper about Animal Crossing that evokes this feeling amongst many of its players.

Nostalgia can be described as a sentimental yearning for the past. Many positive things can come from nostalgia, such as boosting our mood and finding motivation. When you find yourself thinking about the past, reflect on the ways you can use these memories as a tool to improve your current self.