Leaving the Bench

Whether you would like to admit it or not, sometime in our lives, we all wanted deep down to fit in and be accepted. What you wanted to "fit" into is of your own making. Coming to college was a re-awakening experience for me, helping me to fully bloom into the person who I really WANTED to become. Back in high school, it was all one big fashion parade. Who had the latest gear? Who rolled with the baddest crew? Who went to the last Wallah party? Who was TOO COOL for school? The glitz and glamour was what was exemplified while academics had no say. Now, I was always into having nice things and looking presentable but one thing I could not do was to hide my intelligence. As much as people sucked their teeth at you because you were too 'high and mighty', that you couldn't sit in regular English or math classes (instead took the Honors and AP route) I still knew that deep down, that attending school every day, going to class, and doing homework every night wasn't going to be for nothing. Not necessarily to prove anyone wrong, but to be comfortable with the person I would have to face in the mirror everyday.

Now, college taught me way more than 3 Chem sessions a week or Black Experience with Ramsamy. College taught me that not everyone in your past will matter in your future. I wish someone could've told me that earlier, or even if they did, I probably wouldnt have listened. After being in college for about a year and a half now, I cant see myself looking back twice at some of the people I used to go to high school with. Yea, it's nice to see them every now and then, but some make me feel oblivious to their presence especially when they go on their little spheal "Oh girl, u went to college and got brand new; you too cool for me!"….No honey, I was never brand new, you JUST realized who I am. Likewise, college gave me the opportunity to put me on a real gameboard, to feel real competition. Before college, never had I felt compelled to compete with grades. Now that I get to leave the bench, I'm out on the field pitching hard for those A's! LOL! Now I'm always motivated to do better. When your on the yard, everyone is just like you, just trying to live and work hard.

This is why I get particularly annoyed when certain people enter the playing field of college and they still want to hold onto that rugged 'too cool for school', 'I roll hard on these streets' mentality. As far as I'm concerned, you're here just like me, there's no need to hold on to that cloak. We're all striving for success so there is no one to clown you for it.

Not trying to imply that I'm better than anybody, but I don't have the time to worry about who I have to look better than or the next big thing. I'm all about doing what I have to do to get the most out of my existence. Shouldn't we all? We don't live forever, but when you're gone what will people remember you by outside of your name?

Think about it.
Some people live to be regular…and it's okay to be regular, but others live to be exceptional.
(don't quote me on that, lol because I don't remember where I got that from!)

Until the next!