Growing From My Failures
Coming into my first year of college I was uncertain about many aspects of my life. Throughout high school I had never found myself invested in traditional subjects within science, engineering, or math, and when it came time to select a college, I struggled to find an environment which felt right to me. Even when I finally committed to Umass and began my orientation, I was doubtful of my place at school, of my major, and of my future. This uncertainty bred apathy, and my grades suffered because of it. My first semester at school was my greatest academic failure, not because I disappointed my family or my friends, but because I disappointed myself. Its from this failure that I discovered a drive which I cherish to this day. A drive to live up to my own expectations of what I can accomplish. I have come to believe that true lasting motivation is something which comes from within a person. External rewards may drive a person to complete a goal, however, if a person is to exceed expectations consistently they must be motivated by their own desires. For me, understanding that I was capable of much greater things than what my first semester at school had demonstrated, was the push necessary for me to find my passion. I found my place at Umass, and began to enjoy my school work, for the first time I was looking forward to learning about my major. I know that my journey of self improvement is far from over, and more difficult challenges lay ahead. I only hope that I can continue to use this drive for success in all my endeavors to come.