All in all, the most important or at least important thing I have realized over this school year in-particular is probably taking advantage of all the opportunities that are available even if they are not what I looking for initially. As much as we try to think and plan things out in advance, we ultimately can never guarantee that our will or desire is going to go exactly as planned. The thing that has really changed in the last 7 months especially is learning to not just consider similar opportunities that are available, but to totally rethink everything from the beginning, and disregard how people will react as long as I reach the goal and do so in the proper manner.
I often found myself considering which opportunities I will take based on how everybody else is going to react to it. In many ways people often assume I will do certain things, or think that they know which opportunities I will take. Recently, I noticed this while planning our Africa trip. Initially nobody thought going to Africa was anything worth while. We were doubted by almost everybody, and put down for our efforts and attempts to make the trip possible. Others were angered that we did not do as they said and give up. However, because of this it only wanted us to go even more. We knew what we were doing, and recognized it as something positive despite the negative feedback. Every time we were criticized, both Aihelya and I, as well as some others would evaluate the issue by analyzing each of the individual actions that were taken. We were continually criticized only for the reason that we did not do as others said and give up because they did not see it of anything worthwhile for us to do now. Even my own dad thought I was wasting my time and money. Still we continued on, and finally accomplished our goal. Suddenly, now everybody is supportive that they can see the good for themselves.
Next is college. Things changed dramatically. I received my grants, made the grades, got the scores, and for whatever underlying reason was turned down from CalPoly despite the over qualifications. My first thought was that it was possibly the worst thing that has ever happened. I realized I had to start over and not limit myself only to the options that everybody else would approve of immediately. Ultimately I came to the conclusion that I would take online classes, and ultimately become a Navy Officer and head up engineering. My dad said I was stupid for “wasting an education”. Nobody seemed to realize until later, that this would allow me to do the traveling I have always wanted to do. The issue seemed to be that what I chose to do is so grand, and so far from meteocre, that nobody is even able to see the end, and therefore see it useless, stupid, or bad. Though I never really or genuinely considered the option to do college online, it is a very legitimate option as is for the Navy. What I recently learned how to do is to make sure that I achieve my goal, even if it is not how I initially planned so long as I accomplish the same or better. My goal is to become and work as an engineer, and travel the world. Through college, I will become an engineer, through the Navy I will both work as an engineer and travel, as well as gain the money to do more traveling and support myself and a family.
Through all of this, I have really started to prepare for anything else I might face in the future as I can never really plan the exact details of my life. I can set goals, and possible paths to reach those goals, but I should not limit myself only to those paths which are common, or favored by others. The only thing I can do is try to reach those goals on any path that is not tainted with evil. Sometimes we will get nice, clean, and straight paths; other times we must detour and use multiple paths, or follow a path even though it may look different from all the others.
I often found myself considering which opportunities I will take based on how everybody else is going to react to it. In many ways people often assume I will do certain things, or think that they know which opportunities I will take. Recently, I noticed this while planning our Africa trip. Initially nobody thought going to Africa was anything worth while. We were doubted by almost everybody, and put down for our efforts and attempts to make the trip possible. Others were angered that we did not do as they said and give up. However, because of this it only wanted us to go even more. We knew what we were doing, and recognized it as something positive despite the negative feedback. Every time we were criticized, both Aihelya and I, as well as some others would evaluate the issue by analyzing each of the individual actions that were taken. We were continually criticized only for the reason that we did not do as others said and give up because they did not see it of anything worthwhile for us to do now. Even my own dad thought I was wasting my time and money. Still we continued on, and finally accomplished our goal. Suddenly, now everybody is supportive that they can see the good for themselves.
Next is college. Things changed dramatically. I received my grants, made the grades, got the scores, and for whatever underlying reason was turned down from CalPoly despite the over qualifications. My first thought was that it was possibly the worst thing that has ever happened. I realized I had to start over and not limit myself only to the options that everybody else would approve of immediately. Ultimately I came to the conclusion that I would take online classes, and ultimately become a Navy Officer and head up engineering. My dad said I was stupid for “wasting an education”. Nobody seemed to realize until later, that this would allow me to do the traveling I have always wanted to do. The issue seemed to be that what I chose to do is so grand, and so far from meteocre, that nobody is even able to see the end, and therefore see it useless, stupid, or bad. Though I never really or genuinely considered the option to do college online, it is a very legitimate option as is for the Navy. What I recently learned how to do is to make sure that I achieve my goal, even if it is not how I initially planned so long as I accomplish the same or better. My goal is to become and work as an engineer, and travel the world. Through college, I will become an engineer, through the Navy I will both work as an engineer and travel, as well as gain the money to do more traveling and support myself and a family.
Through all of this, I have really started to prepare for anything else I might face in the future as I can never really plan the exact details of my life. I can set goals, and possible paths to reach those goals, but I should not limit myself only to those paths which are common, or favored by others. The only thing I can do is try to reach those goals on any path that is not tainted with evil. Sometimes we will get nice, clean, and straight paths; other times we must detour and use multiple paths, or follow a path even though it may look different from all the others.
