~:[CH14 - Day 53]:~ Don't Count Yourself Out

 
~:[CH14 - Day 53]:~ Don't Count Yourself Out

There's no doubt, life is full of disappointments. Last year at the CIF Finals, I know that the results of the game were not what they wanted. Similarly, every year in MUN, many of my students face an uphill climb as they are overwhelmed by the challenge in front of them. A handful of them leave, but often times, the ones who decide to stay end up excelling once they begin to see what they're capable of. We're all capable. We may not get to the highest levels of our expertise, but we often will exceed our expectations when we trust ourselves and do the work. For a few students, I saw ones who weren't really engaged at first, find their breakthrough and rise to a level they never thought possible. Some overcoming some of their greatest obstacles in life and finding a way to overcome them. Some who struggled in one area or another, find success elsewhere or even in the area they struggled. For the girls basketball team, it was one step closer to facing up to their disappointment from last year and doing something incredible, visiting the finals in back-to-back years - one of the toughest feats. For my MUN students, it was demonstrating that when you are persistent and you trust the process, you'll find your way. While I know there is still work left to do, I was proud of so many who excelled, who broke through, and who overcame. As much time as I spend on campus and invest, these are the moments that show the ROI that make it worth it. The smiles, the joy, and the overflowing sense of accomplishments are things that cannot be bought, they must be earned. Time and energy plus determination and grit will help you get back up when you've felt defeated to rise up and stand to battle another grueling day. Life is full of disappointments, but the sun is just waiting to light your path and show you that great moments await you. Don't give up, don't back down, and never count yourself out.