An unusually fragile underclassman: devoid of faith and fearful of a new environment brimming with the cold embrace of the unknown. “What do you like about yourself?” Sitting in the audience, listening to an assembly during my freshman orientation of high school, this existential question hit me like a tidal wave—initially destructive yet ultimately metamorphic.
Those around me blessed with a wealth of confidence from a young age beamed with vanity: athletes, scholars, musicians and those exceptionally precocious few with the ability to thrive in multiple environments. What had I achieved? I was neither passionate nor talented; neither inquisitive nor ambitious. Embarrassed and self-conscious, my face grew red and my heart raced as I struggled to determine portions of my life to be proud of; there were none. Why was …show more content…
Working closely with teachers and advisors, my academic transcript—both in terms of course selection and grades—made strides as I now understood my true potential. My connections with family and peers strengthened through the unbreakable bonds of love and friendship. Through a common passion, I have been exposed to the most diverse and fascinating group of individuals—all with their own two cents on life—many of whom to this day remain my closest friends. Never again would I determine my worth based upon how I stacked against others—my happiness came from within. Weightlifting had revealed a new way of life. Whether it be through academic tutoring, my position as a Peer Leader to underclassman, or even personally training my close friends and peers in the gym, it remains my obligation to guide those surrounding me towards an understanding of their inner strength and—in turn—an unshakable source of
Those around me blessed with a wealth of confidence from a young age beamed with vanity: athletes, scholars, musicians and those exceptionally precocious few with the ability to thrive in multiple environments. What had I achieved? I was neither passionate nor talented; neither inquisitive nor ambitious. Embarrassed and self-conscious, my face grew red and my heart raced as I struggled to determine portions of my life to be proud of; there were none. Why was …show more content…
Working closely with teachers and advisors, my academic transcript—both in terms of course selection and grades—made strides as I now understood my true potential. My connections with family and peers strengthened through the unbreakable bonds of love and friendship. Through a common passion, I have been exposed to the most diverse and fascinating group of individuals—all with their own two cents on life—many of whom to this day remain my closest friends. Never again would I determine my worth based upon how I stacked against others—my happiness came from within. Weightlifting had revealed a new way of life. Whether it be through academic tutoring, my position as a Peer Leader to underclassman, or even personally training my close friends and peers in the gym, it remains my obligation to guide those surrounding me towards an understanding of their inner strength and—in turn—an unshakable source of