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...