I was scrolling through my photos tonight and came across these!
My graduation day. This was one of the most amazing days of my life and I'm not just saying that to boast. But this was such a significant day that marked the success of such a long, treacherous and extremely hard journey.
Because all my life I suffered from being extremely, extremely shy.. To the point of being almost selective mute! I never really found myself excelling in things. It wasn't because I was dumb or didn't understand, but it was because I never had the self confidence to believe I was actually correct. I have always suffered from self doubt and always needed ALOT of reassurance. I was still like this throughout my entire university experience. I absolutely clashed with my tutors who I'm so sure did not pass me a few times because of it. I was told many times to my face, right before exams that I would fail, I would not succeed and I was not cut out for this profession. I was told to pick something else.
However, I refused to let someone tell me what I could and could not do and I refused to let someone tell me I should give up. I failed the final exam about 3 times before I passed it (right after a change in staffing!) I was not going to give up and I was not going to let someone else win. I knew what I wanted and where I wanted to be and I was not going to let anything come against me. There were so many times where I cried myself to sleep, where I sat up late for hours talking to my mum and wondering whether I made the right choice and if the tutors were right and if I should find a different career path.
Mum, me and Dad
But each day I got back up, I took the bull by the horns and tried again. I got there, through blood (ok, no real blood), sweat and tears, I made it. I passed, I won the battle and I graduated. My confidence was hit soo badly throughout that process that it took me over a year to convince myself that I had actually passed and it wasn't a pity pass. I had done the hard work and I had gained the rewards for it.
Walking up on that stage to receive my diploma was the most satisfying and rewarding moment of my life. My whole family attended the graduation ceremony and it was amazing knowing they were all there so proud of me.
I want this to be a lesson to those that are going through tough times. Everyone goes through them, everyone has a different tough situation, even if you don't see it. You are not alone.
The best thing you can do is to KEEP GOING. You WILL get there, it WILL get better and you WILL BE STRONGER. You will be stronger than you were when you started and you will be stronger than everyone who gave up. You will have a killer story to tell and it will definitely give you motivation and inspiration to apply it to so many other areas and issues that come up in life.
Never give up. Always keep trying. You will reach the top of that mountain.
I now work in an amazing place, with amazing staff who I all get along with and am confident around, I have a lot more hours than most likely my ex tutors now have (we are now qualified and working in the same field!) I am earning a good wage and doing very well for myself. All because I never gave up.
I have friends who gave up at the first sign of a struggle and they now regret it, they are still working long hours on minimum wage and wondering what they should do with their life now. Sometimes taking a new path can be a good thing, but as long as it's working towards something and persevering through tough times rather than continually giving up. Then you will certainly win in the end. Go for it, you can do anything YOU set your mind to. Don't let anyone else set it for you.
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
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