The Beginning – Part 1

Although this is technically the end of my immediate college career, I’m starting to see that it’s the beginning for the rest of my life. Yesterday there was an awards night for all the BME students graduating tomorrow. There were awards, honors, speeches, and a formal dinner. This event really started to kick in the feeling that I am ready to move on into the real world. There were two quotes from the speeches that really stuck with me. One of them was from a friend’s speech: “You may be one person in the world, but to one person, you may be the world”. I know initially this quote seems a little misplaced for a graduation speech. However, that one person can be a parent, who has poured in every drop of effort in raising a child; it can be a sibling or a friend who has stuck through all the different scenarios of life. Personally, I thought it was brilliant to stick in this quote because we graduates are going to be embarking on the journey call life starting June 16th. And it ‘s very important to keep those people close to you no matter how far away life takes you.

The second quote was from a PhD candidate who was also graduating: “Be honest, work hard, and success is bound to follow”. This is so much easier said than done. But based on the successful people I know, this quote is the literal representation of who they are. Reflecting back on these past five years in college, I definitely remember times where it was very difficult to be hardworking and persevering, especially during finals week where you’re a sleep-deprived mess of a human being. But nonetheless, this quote is a mantra that every person should live by if they want to taste success. I find though also that the keys to surviving and doing well in college is time-management, patience, and mental endurance. This is purely based on personal experience. I’ve learned to procrastinate a little less, be more patient, and be willing to pull allnighters to get the job done. I hope to keep these quotes in mind as I start take my next steps.