Views from the Top

Sometimes, you need a little push.

If you want to be successful in life, position yourself around people who are just that -- successful. People who are hard-working, driven, determined, and who have integrity. They will, both, push you and hold you accountable for your growth.

I've always been someone who thrived in advanced or complex environments so I am unsure why challenging opportunities or situations give me the most anxiety. Actually, that's a lie. I know exactly why. It's performance pressure. Underneath it all, I am a perfectionist.

For instance, I think back to my sophomore year in high school and I had so much trepidation regarding my capacity for academic excellence. I would've never ventured into Honors/Advanced Placement territory if it weren't for my good friend, Regina Hamilton, and my teachers telling me I had to leave "regular" classes behind because they saw much more potential in me. They saw something in me I hadn't quite convinced myself was there.

Fast forward a year, I reached my junior year, and I was thriving and surviving in advanced curriculum. But, occasionally, I was still stricken with fear.

I remember sitting in the gym at Olympia High School (in Orlando, Florida), low-key panicking on the day of our AP Literature exam. Looking all around the room, I was convinced I wasn't in the right place. There were actually smart kids there!

Why did I do this? I asked myself. I don't fit in here.

I was sure I'd blown my exam -- up until the day I got the letter in the mail informing me that I passed.

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Call to action: If something scares you -- do it. If you think it is too big or too ambitious -- pursue it. Most importantly, make sure you continue to place yourself around people who, not only believe in your abilities, but will encourage you to reach new heights. These are the type of people who encourage the kind of confidence and development that helps each of us in the end.

We all start somewhere.

- A