Words of Wisdom by Rachel

Words of Wisdom by Rachel - May 2014 Scholarship Essay

My Mother has been a fierce, driving force in my education throughout my life. She would always post encouraging notes around my room, on the front door to see as I was leaving for school, or on the bathroom mirror to read while brushing my teeth. One piece of paper written in her handwriting that I still have many years later posted above my desk says, “In order to succeed, the desire for success has to be greater than the fear of failure.” The words “succeed”, “desire” and “greater” are all highlighted with a faded yellow marker that was running out of ink. I just love that little nugget of wisdom and it has followed me through many semesters of school, exams, struggles and trials.

The truth in the statement lies in our faulty human nature and the fear of failing that inevitably befalls us all. Often we fall victim to the little voice in our head that tells us we can’t, we’re not good enough, or we’ll never make it. The fact of the matter is that the desire for us to succeed in life has to overshadow and silence the voice that torments us with doubt.

One specific time I remember that the little piece of paper above my desk helped me was when I was exhausted at the end of a semester in college when I had been enrolled in 7 classes and final exams were coming up. Looking ahead at the work involved, I began to believe the voice inside saying that it was too much, I would never be able to get everything done in time and my personal favorite: that I was not pursing the right career field and it would never be worth it. It took me about a day of panic, fear and regret to realize that I was going to drown in those feelings if I didn’t find a way to keep myself afloat. That’s when I picked up my computer, sat down at my desk, and glanced at the paper on the wall I had all but forgotten about. I smiled when I remembered first finding that treasure map and the wisdom that it held. I took a deep breath, organized my thoughts, study time, and break time for the next week. I went in with a plan, a desire to succeed and overcome the monster of acing 7 final exams in a 3-day time period.

When all was said and done, I ended the semester with a 3.7 GPA and a new appreciation for coffee. I had done it. I succeeded and pushed aside the fears and doubts that began to creep in. I called my Mom to celebrate the success of the semester and I read to her the words of wisdom she had given to me years earlier. It was only fitting since she is terminally ill and was undergoing treatments at the time to prolong her life. Unbeknownst to me, it was those same words that encouraged her to finish up her treatments and overcome the obstacles that would be set before her. Understanding the vortex of self-doubt and knowing how to get out of that is a priceless life lesson that can be applied during many different life storms. After all, in order to succeed, the desire for success has to be greater than the fear of failure.