If we simply don't succeed, try and try again. And again. And again. And again.
Isn't that the phrase? Didn't we learn that through some tune when we were in first grade, or was that just me? Ever feel like you try at something and push yourself to the limits and plead to see results, and you can't seem to seek out the prize? If you can answer "yes" to these questions, for your own sake, read on. You're not alone.
Trying anything takes courage. The word "try" is defined as an effort or an attempt to do or achieve something. The will to want something bad enough to take the risk of possible failure takes balls.
As I've mentioned before, I am a theater major and am well aware that what we "do" takes risk and a lot of courage. The classes we take involve standing in front of a crowd and becoming people who we are not, knowing that we could be judged, laughed at or embarrassed. Because we love what we do, we choose to take those kinds of risks.
I think risks are a good idea, and some people can find out a lot about their character through doing something they wouldn't normally do.
This year, as a sophomore, I've learned about hard work and the glories that result from it.
We all have expectations for ourselves, and as young college students, it's so easy to lack on getting anything done. The best grades of my life were my first semester of freshman year, but I have since prioritized naps over reading my psychology book. After dropping off that blissful Dean's list, I started to get my schoolwork back in order and found that when hard work is battled at, schoolwork doesn't seem like work anymore. I suppose we should keep in mind that I play games and learn dances in my classes, but still it's safe to say that I enjoy them.
A well-respected professor here at Ball State told me something very wise last week when I met with him to discuss some issues regarding my growth as a student. He said, "Chelsea, you have to work and work and work before you'll see any real successes." Being an extremely organized, find-the-problem-fix-the-problem girl, I tend to want to identify an issue and make it better right away, but sometimes we have to let time do its job.
Persistence is completely an uphill self-battle.
So many people in this society give up on their kind-of dreams because they didn't get what they wanted at the very moment they wanted it. Whether it's fighting for a job, a lover, an apartment, a car or a vacation, sometimes it takes more than one shot at bat.
I've recently learned that the harder you work at something that isn't in the palm of your hand, the more incredible the feeling is when you actually get it.
When I was cast as an understudy in the musical, it only pushed me harder to stay positive and work my butt off. To my, and others', surprise I was put into the show because I fought for something that I believed in to the point of accepting the fact that I might fail.
If you want it bad enough, fight for it. Trying takes courage and persistence takes endurance. Keep your head above water and never give up on what you believe in.
Chelsea Picken is a sophomore theater major and writes 'A Shot in the Dark' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Chelsea at cppicken@bsu.edu.
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