Success is often defined as the accomplishment of one’s goals or objectives. Most people measure life by their successes. Life is a game in which I am constantly measured by myself and others. When I was younger, I based my goals on the expectations of others. I felt enslaved by the goals that were set for me by my superiors – my parents, successful peers, and enthusiastic teachers and mentors. Although in my youth I resented this external motivation, I now value the roadmap that others provided for my success.
External motivation morphed into an internal desire to succeed. This transformation began in my freshman year of high school. I recognized that my performance and grades actually counted. These higher stakes made failure a terrifying …show more content…
While other families’ dinner conservations revolved around sports or the newest gossip in our small town, ours always concerned classes, grades, and the next big exam. Although, in hindsight, this external motivation facilitated my academic success, it fostered an unhealthy habit of comparing myself to others. My younger cousin and I were in the same grade throughout elementary and middle school and we often competed to be top of the class. These mini-academic competitions between us caused hostility and division. It took many years for me to realize that my ‘success’ depended on my approach to school and life and not by comparisons. Finally, I escaped the need to define my success by other’s expectations, finding happiness based on my …show more content…
This game of has been a defining aspect of my identity for as long as I can remember. My older cousin DJ first got me hooked on the game. He was always outside hitting balls into his practice net or going to the course to play nine holes. I always tagged along. When I was younger, golf infuriated me. Golf is full of failure. I would get so mad when I couldn’t control the trajectory or end result of my shots. It was not uncommon for me to quit the round. As I matured, I came to realize that the failures gave me a chance to learn. Practicing a shot over and over again, I came to understand why each shot differed from my expectations. Learning from all my experiences, especially the failures, and treasuring the memories from all those hours with my cousin, has helped me to appreciate the beauty in doing something you
External motivation morphed into an internal desire to succeed. This transformation began in my freshman year of high school. I recognized that my performance and grades actually counted. These higher stakes made failure a terrifying …show more content…
While other families’ dinner conservations revolved around sports or the newest gossip in our small town, ours always concerned classes, grades, and the next big exam. Although, in hindsight, this external motivation facilitated my academic success, it fostered an unhealthy habit of comparing myself to others. My younger cousin and I were in the same grade throughout elementary and middle school and we often competed to be top of the class. These mini-academic competitions between us caused hostility and division. It took many years for me to realize that my ‘success’ depended on my approach to school and life and not by comparisons. Finally, I escaped the need to define my success by other’s expectations, finding happiness based on my …show more content…
This game of has been a defining aspect of my identity for as long as I can remember. My older cousin DJ first got me hooked on the game. He was always outside hitting balls into his practice net or going to the course to play nine holes. I always tagged along. When I was younger, golf infuriated me. Golf is full of failure. I would get so mad when I couldn’t control the trajectory or end result of my shots. It was not uncommon for me to quit the round. As I matured, I came to realize that the failures gave me a chance to learn. Practicing a shot over and over again, I came to understand why each shot differed from my expectations. Learning from all my experiences, especially the failures, and treasuring the memories from all those hours with my cousin, has helped me to appreciate the beauty in doing something you