Kate Thompson, VP

My favorite season has always been winter. After spending half of my life in a place where the concept of snow was just a folktale, I have spent the last few years soaking up as much snow and winter as I can get. With that being said, the shorter days bring with them a dark side. It’s harder to get things done, harder to stay motivated and easy to isolate oneself; the winter blues often result. In this season, I have found it more difficult to find the cheery and playful Kate that has buried herself deep under layers of snow. It is so easy to lock myself in my room alone, leaving my backpack full of homework beside my bed to watch the next episode of The Office for the third time. I build my bed covers into an igloo and hide myself from the wants and needs of the world only to come out and see that nothing has changed.

When the world around us is so full of darkness, it is more important than ever to seek the goodness of light. Something as simple as going bowling and eating ice cream with friends helped me to uncover the Kate that I know. I was then able to get my work done with much more ease. A friend once told me that the sun is so dense that a mere tablespoon would weigh 10,000 pounds. Little bits of light can go a long way and it doesn’t take much to change someone’s day.

As we finish out this season of winter, I encourage us all to seek the light in the little things that happen in ordinary, everyday life. Go bowling and eat a tub of ice cream with some buddies, get up early to watch the sunrise (roughly 7:20 a.m. these days give or take), go to a coffee shop with a friend and read a book. Even laughing at spilling water all over the floor can change your attitude and bring joy to difficult situations. Intentionally finding happiness creates a mindset of joy and motivation.

One of my favorite quotes goes like this: “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” -J.K. Rowling (From: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.) FFA members, don’t forget to turn on the light!!