Thoughts for the seniors

One of my crowning achievements in life is a C- in college.  No joke.  I’ve dated a beauty pageant.  I was the scholar athlete of my high school class.  I’ve won races and been part of championship teams.  I’ve competed on college level triathlon and cycling teams.  I’ve held a highly sought after job.  I’ve had the opportunity to travel around the world.  But that C- ranks up there with them.

It was my junior year at UCSB and the class was Organic Chemistry.  I’ve never been good at chemistry.  In fact, all I remember from high school is trying really hard, getting mediocre grades, not understanding anything, and flirting (or trying to)with the girl that sat next to me.   I just don’t have the ability to do chemistry, concepts never stuck in my head like other subjects, and for the most part, I could never see the patterns in logic.  Chemistry just seems like a mystery to me.

Going into organic chemistry I knew it was going to be difficult, like a one legged cat trying to bury a turd on a frozen pond difficult.  So I planned.  I decided I needed to study an hour a day in between classes, and an extra hour on Saturday before I slept.  I went to every office hours I could attend to.  At the end of the quarter, I remember checking online for my final grade.  Scrolling down to find the class, then scanning to the right, double checking, no, quadruple checking, only then to throw both fists into the air at the all but silent library.  “Yes! C-!”

It felt so good.

It felt so good because I tried my best.  I could not have gotten a better grade than that C-.  It bothered me though – that it took me so long to understand this phenomenon, that success/satisfaction can be derived by one’s effort level.  That there is a level of peace in trying one best and being ok with the results.  I hope you see the implications as this can be applied to other areas of life: vocationally, relationally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  To be honest, I think I’ve learned more from cross-country than I have in the classroom, but I digress.

So that brings me to you.  For some of you seniors, this might be your last cross-country race.  You have a special opportunity in front of you.  You get to try your best, not you must try your best.  But in no way is this easy.

Trying one’s best is an exercise in bravery or being fearless.  Think about it.  Imagine asking a girl out to prom and you give a soft lob (“so what’s your thoughts of possibly going” via fb chat) vs. going all out (in person, eye contact, flowers, the whole shebang).  If in both situations she rejects you, which would hurt more?  But you see, the world isn’t in need of more soft lobs, or mediocres, or just gets by.  The world needs more crazy, more go for broke, more Leanders (google “Leander Greek myth”).

Lastly, know of the security that you have.  Your team and your coaches will always be proud of you.  There is nothing you can do that would make me disappointed in you.

Have fun and try your best.