CtLife blog
CTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
CTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
I was very surprised to find out what Steve Jobs’ reason was for dropping out of Reed’s College. Especially since his story is so similar to my own. After high school graduation I was accepted to UC Berkeley. Attending there was eye-opening in so many ways, I will never regret going there. I loved every minute of being at Berkeley. Although I didn’t go through the hard trials of adoption, I had the same realization as Steve. My own hard-working parents were struggling to pay for me to go there. Even though I had all of my tuition paid for, my parents still needed to help me with room and board- that was $14,000 left of the bill to pay for each semester. I consulted with my professors, mentors, and alumni. I told them my struggle and asked for their help to guide me in the decision. Some told me it was crazy to leave. Others told me I will still succeed with my endeavors despite my departure; I just had to have faith in myself and listen to my heart. After my first semester, despite keeping a top GPA, I decided to drop out and move back to Utah. It has been the best decision of my life. The experience transformed me into a patient, humble, and realistic person. It was my own trial of having to start over again. When I returned to Utah my family frankly told me they couldn’t afford to pay for my tuition at all. I needed to work for myself and raise my own tuition if I wanted to return to college. As soon as they told me that I knew I had to find a l job that was in the realm of what I already wanted to do. Instead of wallowing in despair I decided to stay optimistic and see the event as an opportunity to grow even further. I have always loved the medical field and it was time to dip my toes and really get into it. I buckled up and studied surgical technology for a year while working as a cashier on the side. Then later working in cleaning and processing medical instruments. Learning surgical technology has been extremely useful for me. I have not only gained work experience, but the act of consistently working in the field has kept me motivated daily to continue learning medical terminology, anatomy, and other concepts I will need to learn for graduate school. Since I am fully paying for my studies, I am in full control of what I can study. Like Steve, I took classes my parents probably would have considered useless but were interesting for me. I was lucky that in Berkeley, I decided to drop-in at some business classes. In a particular one I befriended a professor who gave me a book called, “Mindset,” by Carol Dweck. This books was life changing for me. It helped me understand the appreciation of failure and that growth takes effort. Back in Utah I decided to double major in business. Business has always fascinated me and I have always had to a desire to grow a business of my own. Taking on this other major has helped me grown even more. It has really taken me out of my shell since I am an introvert. Time and time again whenever I fumbled in my social skills I have learned to appreciate growth, pick myself up, and laugh it off. I know that social skills are not innate but acquired. I’m a testimony of that to myself. From these experiences I have learned to stay optimistic, patient, and open-minded to new opportunities. I also agree with Steve on the point of living each day as your last. While I was studying surgical technology I simultaneously worked on my CNA. During my internship as a CNA, I got the opportunity to work at a hospice center at an Alzheimer's clinic. The realization of death facing me anytime has helped me grow a sense of urgency and to live in a way I genuinely want to live. Like Steve, I also ask myself everyday if what I am doing is really want I want to do. For a time I was interested in coding but I found out that wasn’t for me-- and that is okay. The pressure of trying to charade as someone else just to gain prestige or power isn’t a bait for me anymore. Realizing everyone will meet their end creates a sort of bittersweet key towards freedom. Here is another great commencement speech relating to living each day as your last. I truly don’t care what others think about me and I live it in the way I want to because in the end does it really matter what other’s reactions may be? I’ve grown to be my own person and I’ve grown to love who I really am.
I leave you with this article that helps sum up the top important lessons I have learned from my hospice experience. The writer, Bronnie Ware, types it up in a clear concise way. It also summarizes her best-selling book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departed. Here is the link: www.happywivesclub.com/top-5-regrets-from-the-dying/ I hope you all have wonderful day! "Stay hungry. Stay Foolish." XOXO, CT |
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