There are moments in our lives when we reach a major crossroad. Life is suddenly left in uncertainty with no clear direction. The decisions we make and path we take in these moments defines who we are. Now, in my recent years, this major crossroad moment has seemed to come up on an annual basis. I don't think that is normal, but for me it has been like clockwork. As I have a couple months to prepare for my latest life-shattering crossroad, I am contemplating my past and future (as I tend to do when this moment arises).
The last 10 months of my life have been incredible. I have learned valuable lessons at my job and made some amazing friends. It is not going to be easy to leave this. I wish for miracles, but prepare for the worst. In two months, this road ends and I am back at the crossroad. Which way to go?
I could tell myself life is horrible and that I will never get my big break. The world is cruel and against me. I do everything I can, but never get the prize. My future is hopeless. But let's be real, that isn't Curtis. I can't look at life like that. Not after all I have been through. Do we all remember two years ago (again at a crossroads moment) when I was living out of my car, homeless, flat broke, and unaware of the coming months that would soon become the most physically, mentally, and emotionally draining months of my life? I have been through some hard patches and yet I always come through shining. So I know I will reach the light in the end. It's just a matter of not knowing how long the tunnel is going to be.
The past 10 months at this job have prepared me for the unknown. Perhaps the greatest value I will take from all of this when it's over are the relationships. There are incredible people here who will always have my back. I have been able to network with people from all over the company. V.P.'s, Managers, Coordinators, and even fellow interns. Each of them made a lasting impression on me. Learning from these amazing individuals has lead to exponential improvement in my professional life. I cannot provide a summary of everything they have taught me without spending hours of typing. However, there does seem to be a general theme I have picked up that I would like to share.
My path isn't working out like ANY of theirs did. That used to bother me. . . until I caught on to reality. No one has an exact formula. Everyone has achieved success by taking their own path. The fact is that I am making my own path and someday an intern will come meet with me in my office asking me how I got to that seat. And the journey I will share with them will not be like any of the journey's I have heard. I am carving my own path to my future by using the advice and direction from the great and inspiring people I have been surrounded with.
There are always going to be major hurdles in the road for me. Some people don't hit those major obstacles. But those of us lucky ones hit them a lot. It's because of that, that I will be successful. Nothing is handed to me on a platter, and often I feel like I am working 10 times harder to achieve my goals then the average person out there is. And that might actually just be the truth! And I may get jealous of those others, but in the end I will be better for it.
My future is eerily unknown. It can be frightening. It is frightening. But I am going to make it through this one. I look forward with caution and optimism, as I continue to fight as hard as I can to reach my dreams. Nothing is going to stop me. I am on my way no matter how many times I get knocked down.
I am amazed at how well you composed that! You have a gift of journalism. Robert has it too, you guy's make me sick.
ReplyDeleteThe future is unknown, but that is what makes it fun. If someone had told me that I would have built my own house and had three kids by the time I was 25, I would have said no. I didn't want that challenge, but I'm so glad that it happened. I'm still surprised that I built this house, but now I am a nail gun and table saw champion!
You'll get to your goal eventually, it's the road to it that is the best part!