May 2, 2007

  • Persistence

    "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
    -Calvin Coolidge

    I remember the first time I read this quote, how wowed I was by it because it rang so true. In my travels through life, I've met many people with exceptional qualities, exceptional personalities, and exceptional talents, doing things with their lives that don't utilize or take advantage of those gifts at all. I remember stories they tell me of their hopes and dreams, but how life just isn't allowing them the chance to follow them. I remember the feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, in hearing that they believe it's over for them. And they all tell me the same thing: "Alex, don't end up like me. Don't get stuck like I have." Hearing it once is powerful enough, but to hear it over and over and over again just completely blows your mind.

    This is why I will never give up on hope on my dreams or on my beliefs. Though I stumble and falter at times, I have many, many things I want to accomplish in my limited time here on this world and I won't allow myself to fail or fall into a rut for the rest of my life. The only thing that separates people that succeed from people that fail is persistence. The people who succeed were able to pick themselves up and try again after they failed, again and again and again, as many times as it took until it happened. Why settle for a degree or education you're unhappy with just to get school over with? I've been a part of the 'regular work force', taking in a regular pay check, doing a regular job. Let me tell you that it doesn't matter how much money you make, it still sucks just as bad making six figures as it does making a lower-middle class wage if you're not doing what you love. So before you rush out there eager to become an adult, think on that for a while. Having a normal job in a field you don't enjoy is just like going to school every day and taking those required classes you hate to take, except you get paid for it. If you know life is going to force you down this road, at least pick something you love doing and wouldn't mind doing five days a week, 52 weeks a year for the rest of your life.

    Too many students I talk to don't realize the full impact that the decisions they make now will have on the rest of their lives. The choices you make now, the views on life you take now, the decisions you make about the world around you and the beliefs you start to solidify in your mind now will likely stick with you the rest of your days, unless you undergo some kind of dramatic life-altering experience later. (My father did, so I can't say it won't happen, but from what I understand it tends to be more rare than not.) Take some time over this summer to really think about what you want from life, and evaluate if your current beliefs, views, and direction will help you get there. Try to think of what will make you honestly and truly happy, and not just about what you're willing to settle for. But most of all, don't give up until you have exactly what you want. If you fall, pick yourself back up again and keep going. If you falter or stumble, just keep moving forwards. Rest if you have to, but keep trying. You'll never know what could have been unless you try to make it happen today.

    Carpe Diem.

Comments (6)

  • Determination has a lot going for it. At the same time, I think there is room for flexibility. Back in Coolidge's day, men were often provided with job security for 40+ years. Women were not offered many opportunities outside of the home. Today, we have a lot more options and the capacity to carpe diem speaks more to the need to make adjustments at the drop of a hat.

    While some choices we make do have an impact on us (usually, the bad choices), it would probably be just as true to say that we are not irreparably tied to only one or two choices. How many people were English majors in college who are doing something else now? It speaks to the ability of the human spirit to adapt and change as different circumstances present themselves.

    As someone who has had to redefine himself several times over my career, I realize that not all my choices locked me in (for good or bad). I've just had to add a measure of flexibility to my determination.

  • ryc "move": There are very few decisions that cannot be undone. Okay, maybe turning down that acceptance letter from Harvard Law School might be one of them. But most choices we make should be seen as opportunities to explore and to experiment. There is much to be said for a "career track," but sometimes the career and the life path are not in synchronous orbit. Hard for some to see that career isn't life, yah?

  • ryc:  Excuses.  Ultimately, we are responsible for ourselves and our actions.  Too many people want to point fingers or blame someone else.  Take some responsibility for your actions or your part, learn from it, better yourself, and stay true to yourself.  If someone doesn't meet your standards then cut your losses and move on; however, don't punish new people for what someone else did.  That's dragging emotional baggage...who in the heck wants that?  I sure don't.  Our attitudes, outlook or perspective, actions, etc. boil down to one thing...choice.  We are in control of ourselves and we have choices.  What are you going to choose?

  • ryc:  Yes, I know.  That is why "only the strong survive"...why those who make it to the top...those who find true love, true success, true happiness...etc...are rare and few...

  • ryc:  I know.  =)

  • Very inspirational, thank you. I will always remember to keep pursuing my dreams, and to not let myself fall into a rut and let my talents go to waste.

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