I can't remember where it was or when it was, but one time my mom and I were driving somewhere and we saw a bumper sticker that read, "The world is my pork chop". We thought this was hilarious simply because we think everything is funny and we love pork chops. Ever since that day, whenever I'm upset my mom will remind me that the world is my pork chop. I'm not even sure what that means, but when I think about it, I think it means that the world is full of experiences and opportunities.

I am only 20 years old, but I have had an overwhelming amount of experiences, both good and bad. I have been a caring friend and sometimes an unforgivable one. I have been a loving daughter, I've been on multiple high school sports teams, and I attend college. I've experienced falling in love, being in love and having my heart broken more than once. I've been given opportunities to rent an apartment, to have a job. I've had the opportunity to be captain for a Relay for Life team, to be part of my residential hall council and to be the girl that says "hiya" to everyone that passes through Merrill Hall lobby (I work as a desk receptionist). Life is always presenting experiences and opportunities to better yourself, thankfully I have decided to take most of the opportunities presented to me.

Sadly, I have also neglected certain opportunities and neglected friendships and people that have cared about me. I have left things unresolved, I haven't been honest with certain people and I have sometimes been dishonest with myself. I have passed up on life experiences I wish I would have taken and sometimes the idea of new experiences scares me. But the world is my pork chop, and I have the opportunity to apologize, the opportunity to tell people how much I love and care about them. I have the choice to experience life the way I want to and I want to experience the world with a happy heart.

Make the world your pork chop. If you're vegan or vegetarian I apologize, maybe make the world your tofu. It doesn't matter to me what food you compare it to, but make the world what you want it to be. Take opportunities and experience life to the fullest. Learn life lessons, feel emotion, learn how to love, learn how to be independent, have a happy and full heart. I've lived my life long enough living as if it were a 3 week old slice of pizza: moldy, stale and sad.

The world is my pork chop and I'm going to embrace everything that comes my way.