Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / Perfectly imperfect, and that’s OK

Perfectly imperfect, and that’s OK

April 30, 2019 by Lauren Franco

“Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low? Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know.”

I’m an enneagram One.

If you don’t know what that means, Ones are perfectionists with extreme attention to detail and a critical mind. Everything must be done without flaw before we hit the sheets and prepare for the long list of grueling tasks for the next day.

Being editor of the Optimist ruined me as a One, but I loved every second of it.

Whether it was my unwillingness to delegate a task or going through each page and check each comma, every headline, all of the body copy and every single detail, I’d stay up most nights (mornings) in an attempt to make sure everything was as perfect as it could be.

Ones typically find their identity in the fulfillment of completing a task perfectly, and I started off the year strong, putting the wrong date (day AND year) on the first issue of the semester. What a success story, right?

I have a lot to thank the Optimist (and university) for. A lot. During my time with the Optimist, I’ve gotten to travel to so many states, win a few awards, cover events most students dream of and grow a family for four years.

But the lesson I appreciate most has to be learning that it’s OK to fail, that my identity isn’t in what mistakes were printed for the whole campus to see…forever, but rather the 200 stories and tens of thousands of photos I took over the course of my time with the Optimist.

Who I am isn’t found in the tears I shed sitting in my office shedding tears by myself for the 13th straight hour, it’s found in the laughs I shared with my best friends, my family, who sat with me for the ten hours prior to.

For four years, I got to live and breathe news. For four years, I got to build lifelong relationships, including the person who would walk next to me through every single failure in every single year.

Maxiumus Prime (or Maxie P, or salmon shorts, take your pick…), I can’t thank you enough for encouraging me when life got “ugly.” I can’t thank you enough for reminding me how worthy I am even when I fail.

We got to experience some incredible things together. From late night Sonic runs after soccer games during sophomore year to trivia night in Jacksonville before the big basketball game as seniors, we’re wrapping up a truly unique time. 

But we also got to experience some rough things together – mostly my weekly, on-cue Thursday tears.

I can confidently say there is no other best friend duo that matches ours. Of all people on campus, your friendship was the most consistent reminder of God’s grace, and that was exactly what I needed. Every day.

The hardest part of being editor was remembering that I am worthy – no matter how many mistakes or how many successes, no matter how many times I fall short, I am so much more.

As I listen to You Say by Lauren Daigle, I’m absolutely sure it was written for the Ones in the room. Even when we fail, the only thing that matters is who we are in Christ.

Through this long, grueling, difficult, life-sucking, 52-week process, getting to learn the growth in failure has by far been the best part. I wouldn’t trade this experience nor these people for the world. Thanks for letting me be perfectly imperfect.

“Taking all I have and now I’m laying it at Your feet, You have every failure God, and You’ll have every victory.”

Filed Under: Columns, Opinion

Other Opinion:

  • Not-so-friendly competition

  • Sing Song in the Expo Center presents an exciting opportunity

  • Micro-trends are a danger to Gen Z and the planet

About Lauren Franco

My name is Lauren and I'm the Editor in Chief of the Optimist this year. I'm an avid fan of romantic comedies, the First Amendment and national parks. More than anything, I'm passionate about storytelling via photographs, and love getting to know the heart of people through my lens.

You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / Perfectly imperfect, and that’s OK

Other Opinion:

  • Not-so-friendly competition

  • Sing Song in the Expo Center presents an exciting opportunity

  • Micro-trends are a danger to Gen Z and the planet

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
4 May

"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray:
https://acuoptimist.com/2022/04/not-so-friendly-competition/

Reply on Twitter 1521918832738144257Retweet on Twitter 15219188327381442571Like on Twitter 15219188327381442578Twitter 1521918832738144257
acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
3 May

Royce Clough and Jael Morel have been named as Mr. and Miss ACU for the class of 2022, a traditional honor voted on by the student body and awarded to two members of each graduating class.

Reply on Twitter 1521607087553458178Retweet on Twitter 1521607087553458178Like on Twitter 152160708755345817819Twitter 1521607087553458178

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

2 weeks ago

The Optimist
"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray: ... See MoreSee Less

Not-so-friendly competition - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

BY: LONDYN GRAY “Number 18, you look like you don’t shower!” I chuckled and shrugged it off. “Londyn!” They had looked up the roster. “Do you even brush your teeth?” I laughed again, rol...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 weeks ago

The Optimist
Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and the Department of Theatre. ... See MoreSee Less

Cullen Auditorium still set for a name change alongside renovations - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and th...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Women’s tournament run ended by first-round exit against UTRGV

The Wildcats’ Western Athletic Conference tournament run and season came to a ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 22. 2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.16.2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.9.2022

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2022 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved

Posting....