Real.

Time is flying, literally! The last time I posted something, it was during one of the hottest summers on record and now there's snow falling from the sky! My family is talking about Thanksgiving plans, and Christmas commercials are consuming the television. Crazy to think that there is only 20-ish days until the end of first semester!

Throughout my life I am blessed to say that I have some of the most amazing people in my life. One of them being an awesome friend: Mitchell Borkowski.
Ever since we were Freshmen ushering at the state fair, Mitchell has been someone I consider a close friend. With him being in Iowa City and me being in Ames he always makes it a point to stay in touch, with around 3 phone calls a week (at least). Our talks range anywhere from the stupid thing we just did, to advice, or the most amazing thing that just happened. His random phone calls through out the week are always a highlight to any day, and always tend to come at the perfect times. I'm not sure how, but Mitchell has the amazing ability to find out when I'm having the worst part of my day and turn it around in an instant.

In one of the most recent talks I had with Mitchell, I was sharing a story about work at the Ames Fareway the night before. Being one of the newest people that work at that store, I wanted to make a good impression meaning, 'calm, cool, and collected' 100% of the time. Making it so that I wasn't my typical goofy self. I shared with Mitchell that, on this particular night, I was somewhere along the lines of "...antsy, and I just didn't know what to do with myself! I was like running everywhere, and people were saying that I was funny!" Now, if you know anything about me, you know that I remember and take to heart the most random parts of conversations. But, I will never forget what Mitchell responded with. He said "Well I'm glad to hear that you were the real Sarah, and they loved it." 

Why do we often find ourselves hiding who we really are in a group of people, just so we can "make a good impression"? Just like me at Fareway, we wear different masks defining who we are based on the people we are with. When we are with our families and close friends we are one person, and when we are at class or at work we are another.

Confession time: I am a goof. Yep, I said it. I find the most ridiculous things hilarious, I snort when I laugh, I LOVE to dance, and me trying to be witty is a joke in itself. Ask my state FFA officer team from last year, if you turned on Sexy and I Know it by LMFAO you should be prepared to see a very unproductive Sarah for the next 3 minutes and 19 seconds. Forcing everyone to take a much needed dance break from the stress of our everyday lives.
I can promise you, that unless you have known me for quite sometime (or seen me on a lack of sleep), you would not know all of the things I just listed. Why?! Because I was too busy trying to make a good impression.

Stop and take a second. Think about how you act when you're with your closest friends, and then how you act without them. Are you the same person? Don't hide behind a mask to try and make people like you. Because, reality check: not everyone is judging you, and people love you.

Be the real you.

-Sar.