Beat to Your Own Drum by Cayden

Beat to Your Own Drum by Cayden - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

I was born into a household that loved the sport of hockey. My two brothers and I were all put into the sport by age four. They both loved the sport going on to play it into their high school years. I on the other hand didn't fall in love with the sport as they did and I ended up quitting at age six. I then decided to become a swimmer, a sport no one else in my family had done before, and I fell in love with it. This is just one example of how I didn't let others dictate my decisions in life. In later years to come, I continued to be myself and do my own thing. Other kids were worried about fitting in and trying to make sure everyone liked them; however, I just listened to the beat of my own drum.

If I could go back to my past self I would make sure to tell him to stay on his own beat. It made life more enjoyable. I didn't worry each day what others were doing, but instead I just did what I wanted to do. I believe this is such an important thing that kids should be able to do. All people do nowadays is wonder what others are thinking about them. Why go through the trouble? How can you enjoy life if you are being the person others want you to be instead of just living it the way you want? There will be people out there that think you are "weird," but that doesn't matter as long as you are happy. When I was younger people would give me a hard time for being a swimmer, saying it was "gay." I never let it bother me though because I loved swimming with a passion. Swimming made me happy and that's all that mattered.

So if I could give any advice to my younger self or any younger kids out there, I'd tell them to be themselves and stop caring what others think about them. It's your life live it the way you want to live it. If you are passionate about something then do it. As long as you are happy with yourself then that's all that matters. Everyone is a drum with a different beat. Don't live life to the beat of someone else's drum, but live life to the beat of your own drum.