Where do you see yourself in four years? It’s the question that has never failed to throw me into a state of deep perplexity. It’s the question my high school civics teacher relentlessly hurled at me. It’s the question that most of us put in the deep pockets of our minds. I had no desire to plot out my life outside making plans for the weekend with my friends
Now, most of us aspire to obtain reputable positions within our respective communities. Whether it be an engineer, physician or lawyer, we all have some end point, some perfect destination in the near future which will yield enough monetary gain and status to afford “the good life”. The objective on the resume is evident, but what are the sequence of events that will lead you there?
It’s a question that requires deep meditation merely because this world, whether you are aware of it or not, is thrusting into a new age of incessant competition with not only your classmates, but with invisible people in foreign lands. In a more globalized society we are only as good as the people we can outmaneuver when it comes to capitalizing our opportunities. Take a close look at the world we are living in. In the media we hear stories of raging recession in our community, and even in our homes we feel the remnants of a society seemingly incapable of sustaining the masses. Well, how does this affect you? The message to take away, if nothing else, is to doubt that future will be certain for any of us. Today, more than ever, it is the upmost priority of each individual, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, to secure a proper vision for the future.
It’s natural for most to become enamored with the temporary realities that come with high school. I remember going through the motions of high school, cutting the corners to get the grade that could pad the cumulative GPA rather than seeking knowledge for the sake of broadening my set of skills. I frequently saw high school as a step to college, but is it crazy to suggest that high school is the first step to real world success. When I sit in my freshman level classes, I take a hard glance at all the students pursing the same major as I am and wonder how will I distinguish myself from the pack? I came from a high school where I was a prominent student. Now I often see myself being challenged by peers and being pushed to the max in terms of intellectual prowess. It’s a cold hard reality not being the most impressive student, but I see the situation as a opportunity for growth in terms of how much knowledge I can gain and worthy accomplishments are yet to be ventured. A year ago I had the same mindset: There are fifteen students in my class applying to the same university as me, not including the thousands of students from all around the country and across the world. How do I secure my position and my own portion of scholarships? How do I gain hands on experience in the field of study? How do I prove to future employers that I have initiative, leadership, and critical thought to surmount any obstacle? How can I be extraordinary?
It’s hard to think of my life ten or twenty years from now, but I must in order to make every day count. It comes back to the notion of how one can seize upon opportunities to advance his or herself in future years. It’s like playing a game of chess, every move should be meticulously made to reach the goal. Think two or three steps ahead of the opponent and the game and you win.