As a good friend of mine once told me, “never succumb to the grossly elaborate stupidity of those around you.” He was only trying to comfort me after being denied employment by a local coffee shop, but his words really stuck in my mind. I had given my all during the interview, but instead who was hired was a few girls I knew from school prettier and more bubbly than I. This seems like a bad experience at first, but it taught me what kind of person I want to be. Even though the majority of girls are the pretty, bubbly type, and are usually more desirable than me at first glance, I still want to achieve higher personality traits.
These sorts of situations have happened to me more than once. On the last day of my high school senior year, I received my yearbook and found that my senior picture was not inside. This was not my fault, since I had turned in a floppy disk containing the picture directly to the yearbook advisor months beforehand. The advisor denied that had ever happened, however, but after much argument agreed to put my picture in the rest of the yearbooks yet to be published. I then received my senior issue, published by the same advisor, and realized that my senior will also was not inside. Again, I had e-mailed the will to the advisor months ago, yet she told me she had never received it. And so I was completely forgotten as a high school graduate. There was nothing I could have done differently because everything I did was done punctually. However, on graduation day, I forgot about it and was very proud to have at least graduated the honors curriculum with a 3.9 GPA while many of my friends were dropouts. Still, none of the scholarships named over the loudspeaker were for me despite all of the long hours filling out applications and writing essays. It no longer matters to me anymore whether I am remembered or not, but that I made a difference and effort.
There are times when this idea has worked for me instead of against me. During my sophomore and junior years, I was the creative editor of my school newspaper. Both years the newspaper received two state awards for outstanding excellence. Our newspaper rose above the standards, and still is after I have left. My position taught me how to quickly fill deadlines, how to conduct interviews efficiently, and sharpened my writing skills. All of the staff members were role models for me because of their high intellect and quality work.
In addition, I enjoy using my intellect to help others. Oftentimes during high school I would tutor other students after school and help classmates with assignments. I want to set a good example for others and let people understand that there is more to life than conformity. I am strongly against drug and alcohol abuse and hope that others will understand and accept my choices.
In conclusion, even though I have decided to take the road less traveled, I believe it is more worth it. Rather than becoming an “average Joe,” I want to live life to the fullest and put 110% into everything I do, even if I am let down for it. Through my life events, easy or tough, I have realized that I want to develop traits that many people sometimes overlook because they believe it is “too cool” for them, such as honesty, punctuality, or being strong-willed, hard-working, and interested. I set my goals and standards for myself higher than most people would for themselves, because in the long run, I know it will pay off. And so I will pass on this piece of advice to you: never succumb to the grossly elaborate stupidity of those around you.