The Power of Perseverance

I believe in perseverance, hard work and overcoming obstacles. Everyone has something that stands in their way of reaching paramount success and having all that they desire in life. For me, my obstacle was my own drive and ambition. I took all of the privileges and advantages that life had handed me for granted at a young age. I did not believe in hard work, dignity and persevering through the odds – instead, in some way I expected things to be handed to me. I had no drive, and no ambition. I was stagnant and defeated.

I thought that a college degree, a well paying job and the perfect life situation would land in my lap, and when I entered the unguarded world I was severely mistaken. Upon leaving my comfort zone, upon leaving everything I knew, I quickly began to realize that being undetermined, unmotivated and uninterested in my future would fail me. Like many others in my same position, I had to take about three steps back and figure things out before I could even move an inch forward. I stood on a precipice of fear and insecurity unsure whether to back down entirely and refuse to try, or to launch myself forward and dive into a new frame of mind.

In truth, choosing to launch forward in an attempt to fly is in fact the hardest part of persevering through challenges, even the challenges you create for your self. There is always that insurmountable feeling of fear that instead of soaring above the issue, you will be met with the sinking feeling of failure as you plummet into demise. It took me two long years of deciding, but one warm, sunny May afternoon, I took that plunge. I decided to go back to college and pursue a degree. At the time I had no idea, but taking that first step, instead of standing, passive and immovable was all that I truly needed in order to soar.

To this day, nearly four years later, I have always chosen the path of perseverance. Never again did I let any privileges, fears or bad habits stand in my way of utmost success and achievement. I have done all that I could to soar, and attain things I never thought possible – like graduating Magna Cum Laude from college after attending school full time, and working three jobs. Due to my hard work I have created for myself something greater than that which I could have ever dreamed years ago. And, because of that I believe in the power of perseverance. I believe in standing up no matter how many times life pushes you down. I believe in swallowing your fears and looking terror directly in the eye. I believe that no matter where you begin, believing in yourself and putting in the work to succeed makes anything and everything possible. But most importantly, I believe that in order to succeed you must first be willing to take the leap of faith to soar. Confidence breeds perseverance. And perseverance is power.