What is one thing you can’t live without?
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By Michelle Allen
Every morning starts the same way: before I check my email, open my laptop, or think about my endless to-do list, I’m reaching for a cup of coffee. Honestly, if you know me, this probably doesn’t come as a surprise. Coffee isn’t just a drink in my house, it’s a ritual, a comfort, and the fuel that gets me moving.
But if I’m being completely honest, coffee isn’t the one thing I truly can’t live without.
That would be the people I love and the connections I share with them.
As much as I joke about needing coffee to survive, it’s the relationships in my life that keep me grounded. Whether it’s spending time with family, catching up with friends, receiving encouragement from a mentor, or sharing experiences with fellow students, those connections remind me that I’m never walking this journey alone.
As a first-generation college student, there have been plenty of moments when I’ve felt overwhelmed, uncertain, or stretched thin trying to balance school, work, and life. During those times, it wasn’t coffee that kept me going. It was the people who believed in me, checked in on me, offered advice, or simply reminded me of how far I’d already come.
That’s not to say coffee doesn’t deserve an honorable mention. Some of my favorite conversations, brainstorming sessions, and quiet moments of reflection have happened with a warm mug in my hands. In many ways, coffee has become part of the experience of connecting with others and taking time for myself.
The older I get, the more I realize that life isn’t measured by how much we accomplish or how busy we stay. It’s measured by the memories we create, the people we impact, and the relationships we nurture along the way.
So, while coffee is definitely a close second, the one thing I couldn’t live without is connection. Because at the end of the day, it’s the people who make life’s challenges easier, the victories sweeter, and the journey worthwhile.
Now I’d love to know: What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
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