With the belief securely fastened within your mind that you will live a full life, it’s important to ask, “What am I going to do with my life? How am I going to fill the years?”
Since you have already set the goal to graduate high school, it’s time to start thinking beyond that. What are you going to do with your life after high school? It’s never too early to start thinking about the kind of things you enjoy and the type of career you might someday have. It’s okay if your plans or interests change, what’s important is that you’re thinking about what you are going to do with your life.
Going to college can be more than a means to earning a degree so you can get a job in the area you want. Many people go to school just because they love learning. Others enroll because they want to be a better artist, for example. Some attend college simply because they love the personal growth gained from an education. Then there are those who go to college just for the dating opportunities found there; since wining and dining isn’t a major, I wouldn’t suggest that as a sole reason for gaining a higher education.
When I was pursuing a higher education, I found that talking with my instructor’s about my medical condition was equally as useful in college as it was in high school. Without exception, my professors were patient and understanding about my circumstance. If I missed a significant amount of class time, they would work with me rather than drop me. If I did have to drop a class due to my health, my instructors were sad to see me go, and encouraged me to come back next semester.
When trying to build a relationship with a young woman, “open and honest,” has always been my motto. In order to get the help you need so you can succeed in college, open and honest communication with your professors is what’s most beneficial.
Showing posts with label 16) Prepare for Your Future. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 16) Prepare for Your Future. Show all posts
Thursday, December 6, 2012
It's Not a Race
Many enrolled in college are what you call full-time students. This means they generally take four or more classes. Depending on how your body handles stress, you may or may not be able to take four classes per semester. When I went to college, I quickly learned that being a full-time student was too taxing for my body. I could only take two or three classes at a time. So, whatever goals you set for yourself in going to college, remember to balance it with your medical needs.
If you find taking fewer classes is what you also have to do, it’s important to not compare yourself to other students. Most can follow a two, four, six or eight year plan to achieve their academic goals. If it takes you longer than your friends to complete your schooling, it’s no big deal. What matters is that you finish.
Using myself as an example, as a result of only taking two or three classes per semester, my time in college was lengthened. I often compared my slow progress to my friend’s seemingly “fast” progress. As a result, I often felt bad about myself. In time I came to understand that college, and life, is not a race. I learned everybody has their own timetable, their own challenges, and their own path to follow in life. Completing the goals you have set for yourself at the rate you can accomplish them is what’s important.
If you find taking fewer classes is what you also have to do, it’s important to not compare yourself to other students. Most can follow a two, four, six or eight year plan to achieve their academic goals. If it takes you longer than your friends to complete your schooling, it’s no big deal. What matters is that you finish.
Using myself as an example, as a result of only taking two or three classes per semester, my time in college was lengthened. I often compared my slow progress to my friend’s seemingly “fast” progress. As a result, I often felt bad about myself. In time I came to understand that college, and life, is not a race. I learned everybody has their own timetable, their own challenges, and their own path to follow in life. Completing the goals you have set for yourself at the rate you can accomplish them is what’s important.
Pursue A Career
Going to college and earning a degree is something that is becoming more and more of a necessity in order to find work in the competitive world we live in. When pursuing a carrier, its important to find one you’ll enjoy and one that won’t over-tax your Four Points of Health.
In our age of technology, many people are able to have a productive career right from their homes. Computers and video conferencing allow people in many professions to do the same job from their home that others do in the office of their employer. Others make their own hours by running their own home-based business. In this day and age there are many options available that can allow you to enjoy employment.
Though employment has not been possible in my life, this is not the case with everybody who has Sickle Cell Disease. Men and women who have our illness are doctors, lawyers, professional singers, and work in many fields of life. If you have a dream of being something, pursue it. If you desire to accomplish something, and most importantly, if you believe you can achieve it, you can achieve it. Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself. Did I mention it’s important to believe in yourself?
A few years ago, during a routine visit with my doctor, he told me of a patient he had. This patient was near my age and had the same severity of Sickle Cell Disease I do. Like me, his hemoglobin hovered around six. His chosen life profession was that of a lawyer. Though the mental and physical demands of a lawyer were quite taxing, this gentleman, because he loved what he did, found a way to make it work. Like the saying goes, “when there’s a will, there’s a way.”
In talking about pursuing a career, I want to be a little repetitive. I’ve mentioned several times that pursuing a career is something that’s not been possible for me. In no way do I want you to assume the same will be true for you. In fact, I want you to assume you will have the profession of your dreams. I want you to believe you will reach that goal. I want you to hunger for it and work toward achieving your dream.
I mentioned that I’m an artist. I haven’t always been. When I was about twenty-six, I saw a movie that inspired me to become an artist. So I bought some paper, pencils, a couple art books, and began drawing. Though I have taken a few classes, for the most part, I learned on my own how to draw. Now it’s something I’m good at. Some people, when they see my artwork, they say, “I could never learn to draw that well.” This is what I tell people who say such things to me: “That's not true. While it is true that some people have a greater natural talent than others for art, if you work at it, if you practice enough, any one can be an artist. If you believe you can achieve it, you can achieve it.”
The same is true for the career of your dreams. If you want to be lawyer, be a lawyer. There are lawyers who have Sickle Cell. If you want to be a doctor, be a doctor. Whatever your dream is, believe you can achieve and make it happen. Yes, you will have obstacles. Yes, your health will give you challenges. But do not assume that because you live with Sickle Cell Disease, you won’t be able to pursue a career. Assume the opposite and work to achieve, no matter how long it may take.
In our age of technology, many people are able to have a productive career right from their homes. Computers and video conferencing allow people in many professions to do the same job from their home that others do in the office of their employer. Others make their own hours by running their own home-based business. In this day and age there are many options available that can allow you to enjoy employment.
Though employment has not been possible in my life, this is not the case with everybody who has Sickle Cell Disease. Men and women who have our illness are doctors, lawyers, professional singers, and work in many fields of life. If you have a dream of being something, pursue it. If you desire to accomplish something, and most importantly, if you believe you can achieve it, you can achieve it. Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself. Did I mention it’s important to believe in yourself?
A few years ago, during a routine visit with my doctor, he told me of a patient he had. This patient was near my age and had the same severity of Sickle Cell Disease I do. Like me, his hemoglobin hovered around six. His chosen life profession was that of a lawyer. Though the mental and physical demands of a lawyer were quite taxing, this gentleman, because he loved what he did, found a way to make it work. Like the saying goes, “when there’s a will, there’s a way.”
In talking about pursuing a career, I want to be a little repetitive. I’ve mentioned several times that pursuing a career is something that’s not been possible for me. In no way do I want you to assume the same will be true for you. In fact, I want you to assume you will have the profession of your dreams. I want you to believe you will reach that goal. I want you to hunger for it and work toward achieving your dream.
I mentioned that I’m an artist. I haven’t always been. When I was about twenty-six, I saw a movie that inspired me to become an artist. So I bought some paper, pencils, a couple art books, and began drawing. Though I have taken a few classes, for the most part, I learned on my own how to draw. Now it’s something I’m good at. Some people, when they see my artwork, they say, “I could never learn to draw that well.” This is what I tell people who say such things to me: “That's not true. While it is true that some people have a greater natural talent than others for art, if you work at it, if you practice enough, any one can be an artist. If you believe you can achieve it, you can achieve it.”
The same is true for the career of your dreams. If you want to be lawyer, be a lawyer. There are lawyers who have Sickle Cell. If you want to be a doctor, be a doctor. Whatever your dream is, believe you can achieve and make it happen. Yes, you will have obstacles. Yes, your health will give you challenges. But do not assume that because you live with Sickle Cell Disease, you won’t be able to pursue a career. Assume the opposite and work to achieve, no matter how long it may take.
Volunteer Work
Gaining a college education can be beneficial to you and others as well. If--and I stress the word "if"--you find having a career puts too much strain on your health, you can always use your education to assist people around you. Tutoring from home, providing service in your community, offering your expertise to your church or other volunteer work may be ways of using the knowledge you’ve gained. As discussed in Section 12 "The Salvation of Service", opportunities to serve are all around you.
Goals
Setting and accomplishing goals is another way to think positively about and prepare for your future. Like people, goals come in all shapes and sizes. They can be set and accomplished on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. They may be academic, career oriented, artistic or of a financial nature. Self-improvement is the main objective in the achievement of most goals.
One of the best ways to accomplish goals is to write them down. After writing them down it’s good to post them some place where you can see them every day. It’s helpful to have a target date to have it completed. Once you’ve fulfilled your goal, it’s important to reward yourself for having done so. After working hard to make that objective a reality, why not treat yourself? The reward may be going to a movie, buying that new item you’ve been wanting, taking a vacation, a day at the beach, or eating a box of chocolate covered grasshoppers—if that’s your thing.
The process of setting and completing goals can improve feelings of self-worth. Occupying your time and energy with the task of accomplishing goals can also help combat depression and boredom. Achieving the task you set for yourself can bring a satisfaction that comes with being productive with the time you have. One of the biggest goals I ever set required two years of daily effort to fulfill. The sense of accomplishment I felt in completing that task was powerful and long lasting.
I again encourage you to think about your future with hope and optimism. Take the time to learn about the things you enjoy and try to find a way to make a living doing that. Believe your future is just as bright as the next persons, because it truly is. If you find your progress toward earning the education you seek or the career you desire is slowed by your health, don’t worry about it. Just keep moving forward at the pace you are able. Maintain your ambition. Don’t allow the challenges of your health to defeat you or destroy your dreams. As you fight to keep them alive you will find your hopes becoming your reality.
One of the best ways to accomplish goals is to write them down. After writing them down it’s good to post them some place where you can see them every day. It’s helpful to have a target date to have it completed. Once you’ve fulfilled your goal, it’s important to reward yourself for having done so. After working hard to make that objective a reality, why not treat yourself? The reward may be going to a movie, buying that new item you’ve been wanting, taking a vacation, a day at the beach, or eating a box of chocolate covered grasshoppers—if that’s your thing.
The process of setting and completing goals can improve feelings of self-worth. Occupying your time and energy with the task of accomplishing goals can also help combat depression and boredom. Achieving the task you set for yourself can bring a satisfaction that comes with being productive with the time you have. One of the biggest goals I ever set required two years of daily effort to fulfill. The sense of accomplishment I felt in completing that task was powerful and long lasting.
I again encourage you to think about your future with hope and optimism. Take the time to learn about the things you enjoy and try to find a way to make a living doing that. Believe your future is just as bright as the next persons, because it truly is. If you find your progress toward earning the education you seek or the career you desire is slowed by your health, don’t worry about it. Just keep moving forward at the pace you are able. Maintain your ambition. Don’t allow the challenges of your health to defeat you or destroy your dreams. As you fight to keep them alive you will find your hopes becoming your reality.
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