Vincent B.
Photography courtesy of Vincent B.
If you’re reading this, celebrate the little victories.
At a place like Georgetown, it is so easy to get caught up chasing achievements and successes over satisfaction. I would know, because it's something that I do often. Throughout the first half of my Georgetown experience, I tied my self worth to what I was able to accomplish: the clubs I was able to join, the jobs I was able to land, and the grades I got. No matter how much I did, I never felt like I was doing enough; when I failed or was rejected in these endeavors, this feeling intensified. In short, my first two years on the Hilltop began to feel like climbing a long staircase in a never-ending skyscraper, always looking for the next step ahead. As a result, whenever I fell short of my goals, I would feel inadequate and push myself even more, whether that meant joining more clubs, meeting more people, or applying to more jobs.
At the end of the day, I tried climbing the 'stairs' so quickly that I completely forgot to look out the windows of the metaphorical staircase and admire how far I had come since my first day on campus. For all of us, no matter where we are today, we have all come far from where we began our Georgetown journey. From the moment we first decided to send in our application, we embarked on an incredible journey - beginning the climb to new, unforeseen, yet beautiful heights. As Hoyas we are all driven, dedicated, and passionate people with a desire to take the next step - to climb our own 'staircases' to our dreams. While it's good to make the climb towards your goals, without admiring the views and little victories on your way up, it is possible to lose sight of the reason you keep climbing in the first place.
The greatest victories in life are those that we take for granted. For instance, in life every new day is a victory in itself. Simply by waking up every day, getting out of bed, and bringing a positive attitude to everything you do, you are well on your way to achieving your goals. Just like climbing a skyscraper starts with a single step, little victories - when multiplied by millions - lead us to greatness. Just be sure to never give up!
Vincent B., Georgetown University
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