Results are Nonexistent Without Process by Cory

Results are Nonexistent Without Process by Cory - May 2017 Scholarship Essay

The advancement of technology has proven to be an extremely beneficial aspect to society. However, it has lessened the the amount of time people spending reading. People are now more interested in what the latest news is with their friends and celebrities rather than how much more knowledgeable they can become by reading a book or novel. A book that has tremendously impacted how I go about my daily life is Robert Lipsyte's The Contender. This book describes Alfred Brook's troublesome life and his search to succeed in some way in life. Upon meeting Mr. Donatelli, his boxing instructor, Donatelli installs the idea that one cannot think about becoming a "champion" until they become a "contender". This statement emphasizes that the ultimate, final result is an afterthought to the process and short-term goals along the path.
I read this novel at the beginning of my senior year and it very much assisted me throughout year when times got tough. Of course, the ultimate goal for me this year was to graduate high school as well as finish in the Top 20 of my graduating class. With three AP courses this school year, there were points in the school year which I felt quitting was an easy choice and not completing the assignment would not be a big deal overall. However, the quote by Mr. Donatelli made me rethink these negative thoughts and reminded me even the littlest assignments are small goals that add up towards my large, end goal. I could not take a risk of an incomplete assignment coming back to bite me and prevent me from finishing in the Top 20 as I was competing with other students who were enrolled in many of the same advanced courses.
Secondly, The Contender allowed me to experience a small sense of independence as I had to motivate myself to complete my homework and study for tests. My teachers, parents, or friends were not the ones that had to do the necessary work in order to reach my goal, I was. I practiced self-discipline and restrained myself from more appealing activities when school work was more important that night.
In conclusion, the quote from The Contender by Mr Donatelli about how the result is meaningless and unachievable without the process and the small goals that eventually lead up to that end goal was and will be applicable to how I go about my schoolwork and time management. This novel was one of the most important reasons why I was able to achieve my goal of finish in the Top 20 of my senior class and will be the reason why I will achieve my future goal of graduating college in four years at Arizona State University. Due to the adjustments I will have to make as I move along to college, the main idea of The Contender will remain with me because without it, I wouldn’t be there.