Missouri by Cagen

Missouri by Cagen - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

As a student there is a lot that I wish I would have known earlier on. If I was able to share one piece of advice out of everything that I know now, it would be to learn to be good with discomfort, and learn to be good with uncertainty. These are two of the most difficult things to do, especially as a student, yet two of the most important and rewarding skills to develop early on.

The best things in life are hard, and if you turn away from discomfort and difficulty, you will miss out on them. Writing a book is hard. Marriage is hard. Learning is hard. Climbing a mountain is hard. Success is hard. All of these things are amazing. Without discomfort and hard work none of these things would be possible. By avoiding discomfort you will live a safe life, but not a very rewarding one.

Learn by doing things that are uncomfortable and hard. Apply yourself, take advantage of uncomfortable situations, and do things that require hard work. If you learn to be good with discomfort and difficulty you can do anything.

Thrive in uncertainty.

Starting a business is amazing and very rewarding, but if you are scared of uncertainty you will never try it. Skydiving is exhilarating, but if you are scared of uncertainty, you will skip it. You can’t be certain how all things will turn out, life is full of uncertainty. If you avoid uncertainty you will avoid thrill, opportunities, and success. If you can learn to be good with uncertainty you will be open to so many more possibilities in your future.

If you are good with a little discomfort and uncertainty, you can do all kinds of things: write a book, start a business, travel the world, create a positive life, and much more. Be okay with discomfort, be okay with uncertainty, and your life will be very rewarding. No one told me this when I was a young student, and I wish someone would have. I had to learn this the hard way, which is why I would share this piece of advice with other students.