Determination

In all honesty, these next few years are going to be some of the most difficult of my life. By studying to become the doctor I want to be, I will along the way be working towards becoming the man I want to be as well. On this path towards becoming my true self there will be innumerable forces up against me – challenges and risks that could easily throw me off course – but they will not succeed. The first risk lies in the fact that in order to make it I will have to stay completely committed and focused. I am already proving to myself that I can do this in school now. Until recently I was unsure of what I wanted to do, but now that I have a vivid goal ahead of me I have found the motivation I’ll need to see it through. My straight A’s this semester are proof of that. By visualizing who I want to become, I know that I will have the stamina to get there. I’m not fooling myself that it will be effortless, because supporting myself and working my way through school is no easy task. Finding a balance between school and relationships will also prove challenging. My girlfriend is equally as ambitious as I am, and both of us will be bombarded with work to complete as we embark on our college careers together. Maintaining our relationship will undoubtedly be stressful at times, but that is a risk we are willing to take together, knowing that the fruition of our hard work will only offer us greater opportunities in the future. Another risk involved in this process is the passage into adulthood. At this time in my life I am readying myself with the tools I will need to become a responsible and capable adult. I want to be able to look back on my youth and know that I did all I could do to build a life for myself. One day I hope to reflect on my decisions and say, “I really gave it my best,” and “I risked it all to get where I am today.” I’m willing to accept criticism and skepticism from those who doubt me or those who will try to entreat me towards other pursuits to be able to say those things to myself one day. Of course there are some risks that are a little less certain. The most obvious is the risk of failure. There will always be a chance that I won’t make it. I am only a man, and I am not invincible. Through my experience in competitive sports I know that one team has to lose. Not everyone can win the championship, nor can everyone make it into med school. In life there are always going to be disappointments, and it is inevitable that I have had and will have my fair share. Greater than the risk of failure, though, is the risk of not trying. What could be worse than never knowing what could have been' How will I face myself or be true to myself if I do not try' This is the ultimate question. Should I risk rejection, failure, and disappointment and take a chance' To this I answer with a sounding “YES!” In order to become my true self I must learn what I am capable of, however daunting this may be. The risks don’t end when college does, either. In fact, they will likely increase. I can only imagine the wealth of opportunities a degree in medicine will bring. Once I have accomplished my goal it will be risky finding my place in the global community. There is so much I want to do and there are so many I want to help. I am excited when I stop to consider all of the adventures that lay ahead of me, the adventures that will shape me and lead me towards becoming my true self.