Throughout our life, we get told to work hard and we will get everything we want. This is true but to a certain extend. Being a hard worker doesn’t mean you will always get what you want. At the end It takes more than just that, some knowledge and hard work but the right way, the smart way; that is what will get one far.
I want to take you into my life and how I learned that being a hard worker is part of receiving everything you want, But its not all.
Field Work
I grew up in a small town in Washington, not being able to travel like everyone else I learned to just take what I can get. I didn’t necessarily grow up poor, I had everything I needed to survive but I knew there was more out there. Although I wasn’t well educated just yet I was always taught to just work hard, be kind, and respect others and I will get anything in life.
So that is what I did, all the work there was back home was field work, agricultural work, and cashier/customer service work. My parents were hard workers, waking up at 5am every morning and having to work outdoors with little to no breaks until 3pm. Growing up I assumed that was hard work, which it is but not the work that would take me to a life of abundance. I wasn’t aware that you could work hard at something else and get even better results to live a different life.
So from elementary to high school I worked in the fields every summer, I would work hard picking apples, shoveling dirt, tying strings. Different jobs that built my work ethic. At first I assumed just doing my best at that would get me far. But then senior year came and I realized I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life. I wanted to do more and be more. So that’s when the next chapter of my life came into place and I left my small town to play college soccer in another state.
Student-Athlete
Moving away was tough, but it helped me grow. From having a small mindset to growing and achieving more than I thought possible. I believe it is a good idea for anyone to get out of their comfort zone and move away for a couple of months or years. It just helps you see things in a different perspective as it did for me. Being a student athlete showed me how much more work it takes to become great at something. Practices were harder, school had more work load and on top of that, one must learn to work and pay bills.
However, this only showed me how much more work one has to do in order to become better. I already had the work ethic from working in the fields, now I had to learn how to work hard in the books, meaning studying. I never learned how to study, at least not properly. High school was a walk through that didn’t take much to pass a class. I always made an effort to do good at school, but never figured out a way to study and work hard truly understanding the material. Growing up I thought it was a joke until the next chapter of my life came and I moved once again to attend a university where it has taught me the importance of education and studying to truly learn and get educated.
New Beginnings
Moving away again, to a different state and starting from zero was a challenge. But again that work ethic always stuck with me and the dedication that was involved with it has made me the person I am today. We can all start over at different points in our lives and still be fine. The reason for it is when you are determined, dedicated and hard working, nothing can stop you. Which is what I have been learning at the moment. Having no income, trying to pay for school while still trying to have your mind right for soccer season was tough. 7am runs, 10pm lifts, and 6 pm training sessions, all in a day while school was around the corner.
I was mentally drained, trying to figure this thing out, from finding a source of income to trying to figure out how to study. Especially since my degree was biology going into pre-med at a high academic private school. I was not use to the adversity that was thrown at me as well so I found myself comparing with others. I then realized something, I come from a working class yet won athlete of the year at my juco, as well as all star player and went on to get an education at a high-academic private school. Not many people do that, which means as long as we work hard and are dedicated nothing that is put in front of us can stop us.
Hard Work With Faith
As I learned I realized that hard work with knowledge can take you further than anything in this world. The most successful people weren’t just smart, they were also hard working. But they worked hard a smart way, ways in which the world “God” grants you, you’re biggest dreams. Being smart is only part of the equation as I have learned throughout my life. I was never the smartest in my group nor will I be the smartest, but I will always show effort and commit to what I am doing, having faith. And that is what has taken me to become the person that I am today, and it will take you to be someone you never thought possible.
So work hard everyday and keep heading towards your goals, study the game and know that there will alway be something to learn.