A Little Healthy Competition

I may not seem like it because I'm athletically challenged, but I am a HUGE competitor. I am constantly comparing my achievements to the achievements of others. Which let's face it, really isn't healthy.

I look at my friends and think "wow they've published a book already." I haven't done that. Then I remind myself I edited a book, but it's really not the same thing.

I think what I am learning is that you can't necessarily judge yourself by what other have accomplished. Some people accomplish things later in life. But more importantly I need to learn that not all accomplishments that society thinks are important are really important.

Granted to see your name in print is quite fetching and has a quality about it. But I would argue that there are more important things in life. To be honest for the longest time I have had one goal and I don't know if I accomplished it yet, but I'm thinking this summer I might.

When I was a sophomore in college my life sort of fell apart. Well my academic life. I no longer wanted to be an English major. I was in a Persuasion and Propaganda class, which was one of my favorite college classes, and I was crying my eyes out. I had just been taken down a notch by my favorite English professor and then went to my next class. My professor was AMAZING...at least the Propaganda one. She said "Next class we have a test. Here is the study guide. You can leave. Jane, will you please stay."

She asked me what was wrong. I told her about my English failures and she asked me what I wanted to do for a living. I said I wanted to plan the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. She got her college handbook and we looked through it to decide what I should major in to reach that goal. We decided on business communication and marketing...a double major.

I left feeling better and more optimistic. Then I had to go to my scary English professor and schedule new classes. I told her I'd changed my major and she said she wouldn't schedule me because I was no longer an English major. I was once again distraught. I had classes to sign up to take. I had a schedule to follow since I was studying abroad in two years. So I called up my Propaganda professor and said "I need an advisor" and I became her first advisee at the college.

For the rest of my time at school my Propaganda professor, let's call her DW, was probably the most influential person in my life. She guided me and helped me through college...I wasn't struggling academically, but I'm the type of person who needs a mentor. And to this day she is a good friend and sounding board.

And that's what I really want in life. I want to be someone's DW. And this summer I think I might have that chance, which let's face it, is pretty cool.