I am supposed to be studying for my Linear Algebra exam tomorrow, but I needed to jot down this small tiny blog. It’s actually been a while since I have sat down to write and I sure miss being able to on a regular basis. But I learned a valuable lesson today and that is “Don’t let the little things in life affect you”.

This morning I went to shoot around (basketball) as I do so every Tuesday and Thursday. Since I got to the student activity center, we have to check in with our ID and it’s a really simple process. As I step closer to the check in counter, I am greeted by the old gentleman that is always there to check people in. I say “Good morning” and give him my ID. “Juan Alfredo!!!” (He has a tendency to announce my name every single time) and all I can do is smile and tell myself “That’s me”. But today, this kind man fussed the ever living mess out of me.

You see, yesterday I rented out a basketball and returned it before I left the gym. The girl who was there when I returned the ball did not ask for my ID therefore I assumed she knew who I was so I left without worrying about making sure that the ball was taken out of my account. (Back to this morning) “Where is ball #1 Mr. Fuentes” “Sir, I returned it yesterday. You weren’t here. The girl who was here took the ball and didn’t ask me for my ID”. I immediately referred to my memory bank and I recalled that the girl from yesterday never asked me for my ID, so I just walked on out. Simple. Yet this is where he started to piss me off. “I am sick of you college students blaming others for your own mistakes.” He was blaming me for not giving her my ID and not only that, but now I had to go find the ball that I used, return it and then give it back to whoever was using it. 

I found the ball! But someone was using it. I explained to the guy using it that “I need[ed] the ball for 2 seconds so that the guy in the front desk can clear it out of my account”. I swear it was like I told him “Sir, I need your kidney. Please hand it over”. After explaining the entire situation, this 7 foot 6 foot 5 inches tall giant gave me the ball and I took care of the issue. 

So after 15 minutes of time wasted, I was finally in the court shooting my ball and I was so annoyed/ticked, that none of my shots were going in. All I could think of was “my day is now ruined”. 

I then felt this urge to bump some hip hop and I put my iPhone on shuffle. Some good ole Lecrae came on and boom, just what I needed. I was reminded that I shouldn’t let the small things in life affect me. Sure, that man had no business fussing at me but I know that his job was to make sure that the ball I used yesterday was accounted for in the system. Was it my fault that the girl from the desk never asked me for my ID: no I dont think it was. 

I later left the gym with a more positive attitude and I made sure that I turned in the ball and showed my ID. All of this happened to teach me that I need to not worry about what lies ahead. Whether I get cussed out for doing something wrong or whether I don’t get my summer internship, I need to fight the thought and realize that God has better things planned for me.

I really dont know how to close this post, but later on in the day I found out that I aced a quiz/test I had in one of my engineering classes. Definitely made my day much better!!

So my Junior year in college is coming to an end and it is still unreal to me. Sometimes I question if there was anything that I could have done differently in order to make my experience in college better. I came to Charlotte with the intention of leaving to NC State my sophomore year and that didn’t really work out because I knew that there was something else in store for me. I obviously didn’t come to realize that until this past year had begun: God had a plan that I did not know about. 

Even though things turned out differently than how I wanted, God definitely showed me that His way is 12048120497 times better. How is that? Well I came to realize this a long time ago, but my stubbornness kinda got in the way. It was not until I picked up “Jesus Calling”, a daily devotional by Sarah Young, that I was reminded how much more awesome His plan is for us and our lives. 

If I list out the things that have happened to me since staying at UNC Charlotte, I would definitely be able to compile it all into a book. During the next few weeks, exams are going to start and I think I will be in a bit of a struggle bus but I pray that God has my back and helps me pull through with everything that I have to do. Not only is it going to be difficult, but I think it’l be a way to test my trust in Him. 

This weekend, actually on saturday, my girlfriend, Kayla, our friends, Allison and Cody, and myself went to Greenville, SC. for a day getaway. I cannot tell you how much fun I had and how relaxed I felt. With my Junior year in college coming to an end, it was time to just get away for a little bit. 

The weather was awesome, the downtown area and the park had that homey feeling and the food… well, that was amazing. We went to the park and got to take some pictures, which came out nice thanks our iPhones and the sun. 

I thank God for reminding me that the people in my life are there for a reason and I have been thoroughly blessed. Now that we’re back, it’s time to go on and finish strong. It’s going to be a tough week, but thank goodness we had a great weekend.