College has taught me a lot of things.  I've learned statistics, how to live with lots of different people, to function on 4 hours of sleep...and lots more of course.  But the main thing college has taught me is to live in the now.  We are all in different circumstances.  Some better than others.  The fact that you are reading this tells me that you are better off than about 88% of the world (only 22% have computer access).
   
      As humans- specifically Americans- we tend to identify ourselves by our occupation, salary, living conditions.... in other words circumstance.  We often think less of those who are not as well off as ourselves.  You may be thinking "I don't do that."  Well, consider this.  Say a man is introduced to me as a doctor.  Without even speaking I can quickly identify him as rich, charismatic, successful, smart.  Seeing these attributes I draw the conclusion that he is probably a very very happy man. I assume this, largely because I know the common circumstances of successful doctors, they are typically "well off". And I associate their circumstances with their level of happiness, ultimately letting their circumstance define them. I would venture to say that I am not alone in this observation. The link between circumstance and happiness can lead to "the grass is always greener" attitude, an attitude that in beginning college, I found quite common within myself.  I told myself that college was too hard and if I could just get thought the semester then I could be happy.  I found myself constantly comparing my life to others.  "She is so happy and married! If I can just hold on until I get married, then I will be happy"  or "he just finished college, if I can just get through college, then I will be happy."  When these thoughts come to mind now, I must remind myself that these people are at their middle, and I'm at my beginning, and if I compare my beginning to their middle, then no matter where I am in life, I won't ever be happy.  If you always expect happiness in changing your circumstance then you will never find it. Happiness comes from accepting and understanding why God has put you where you are.

   

Life is hard.  And we all have difficulties in our individual situations.  If you aren't delivered from your difficulties, then figure out what you can learn from them and be grateful.  Be grateful for where you are and what you have, because you may never have these opportunities again.  If you don't know why you are in your circumstance, then you better figure it out.  Because no one can do your circumstance better than you.

 When you get discouraged with your life, realize that it won't always be possible to change your situation right away, because that isn't how God works. Realize instead that a change in your attitude may be what he needs from you.  And although it may seem scary, just remember that God put you in your present circumstance.  So you are obviously the best he has for it.