In light of the Project Positivity Challenge #4 I have decided to share my personal story on how I re-thought my situation at the time by hearing the hard truth and words of wisdom.
This was about 3years ago, and I was just entering my junior classes in engineering. I had been off and on with school for many years and was losing my drive. The classes were getting difficult and requiring a ton of my free time, in which I started giving less and less attention to.
It was mid-semester in a class that I started out with an A and had sunk down to a high C after doing horrible on the Mid-term. It was becoming depressing, I was feeling lost and started second guessing my decisions to finish. I became more focused on enjoying life, going out with friends and drinking a lot. Not to mention the countless drugs that got passed around. I started on that path of becoming a failure.
Then on a Friday, I went to one of my professor’s office to turn in my lab report that was now a few days late but still worth some credit. I had also skipped his class that week so the last thing I wanted was him to notice me, in fact I just wanted to toss it into his bin on the outside of the door and be gone. But with my luck, his door was open and he was sitting at his desk.
As I approached, he noticed me right away and told me to come in. I told him I was turning in my lab this week even though I realized it was late. He took my report and tossed it in a folder and then told me to take a seat because he wanted to have a talk with me.
As I sat down he looked at me and said some of the most powerful hard hitting words I have ever been told.
"I know you’re Intelligent... I had huge expectations of you when you first showed up to my class. I don't know what has happened with you, but something is up."
As I went to speak and give him a bull-shit story he held up his hand and told me just to listen.
"Like I said, I can see good things coming from you. But as it now, all I can see is that you’re wasting your life..."
He paused and then with complete sincerity told me the piece of advice that I will never forget.
"Please, don't waste your mind. It's a precious thing not everyone has the luxury of having."
I was completely shocked. Never have I had a professor that seemingly cared so much about me or my future. He then told me I could go, have a great weekend, and that he expected me in class next week. To say the least, I didn't skip his class anymore and finished with a high B.
This was something that changed my outlook nearly instantly. I changed my whole perspective on class and more importantly my life. It also made me think of how this related to other aspects of my life, and how I have decided to stop wasting it by becoming more open minded. In a sense, be what you can be. Try new things, and most of all, Be Curious!
Nothing seems to come easy, but with dedication and sacrifice, you gain the ability to reach out and take what you want.
Thank you reading. Comments are always welcomed.
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