A while back someone asked me what my teen years were like. Was I at the top of my class? Perhaps I was a great athlete or a trend-setter? Did I initiate clubs, volunteer for every community event, or lead my classmates in student government? After a good, long think, I had an answer: "I was not a standout during that time in my life. I was impressively average."
A student in an extremely large school who drifted happily through the halls without leaving much of a mark, I was thrilled to make the honor roll enough times to qualify for the gold honors tassel at graduation. I was pleased (and a little surprised) to make the cut on the gymnastic team freshman year and the tennis team from sophomore to senior year. I had average abilities, average intelligence. . . I was even average height and weight!
Those of us who grew up "average" to a degree that's downright impressive have an edge. All of us middle-of-the-packers took our time to grow up. Whether we realized it or not, we were giving ourselves permission to explore the world, discover our abilities, and hone our talents. I'm an example of this. Even though I knew I wanted to be a writer since age eight, it took me years of writing for magazines, newspapers, and blogs to refine my skills. I'm not the same person I was back then, and my writing reflects that. It took time for me to distill my thoughts and experiences into the kind of stories others would enjoy reading.
I am, by no means, discounting the merits of the star students at my high school. Many of those naturally endowed go-getters are still incredibly successful. But to succeed in my line of work, patience, persistence, the ability to handle rejection, and unflagging optimism are vital. As a high-schooler, I had only the optimism. It took decades to adequately develop everything else. I cherish the time it has taken to evolve and expand, both in my professional and personal life. Today, decades after graduating from high school, I'm fulfilling lifelong dreams--something I'd not lived long enough to realize then.
Were you a star student, or did it take you time to realize your life's purpose? Drop me a comment and we'll talk about it!
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