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By Joe Wilson
Life in your early twenties can be quite peculiar, don't you think? It's a phase when you find yourself straddling the line between adolescence and adulthood. Meanwhile, the questions that have swirled in the back of your mind for years suddenly demand answers: What career do I want to pursue? Where do I want to live? What kind of person do I want to become?
These questions hold the power to shape the trajectory of our lives, so it is an anxiety-inducing experience to grapple with all of them at such a young age. Whenever I encounter this pressure, I often turn to the words of the people I most admire. I keep a notebook full of my favorite quotes from famous writers, politicians, and other historical figures for whenever I need encouragement or inspiration. Here is a selection of just some of the words of wisdom that have guided me through my college career.
“The will must be stronger than the skill.” –Muhammad Ali
Starting a new project is always exciting, be it learning a new language, writing a book, or taking a class. However, you’ll eventually encounter obstacles, like forgetting vocabulary or hitting writer’s block while on your quest to write the next Great American novel. How will you respond to these challenges? Will you give up at the first hurdle, or will you persevere? According to Louisville’s own Muhammad Ali, the answer makes all the difference.
As cliché as it sounds, determination and hard work are the only paths to success. Talent alone won’t suffice. Even the most talented writers, for instance, will endure prolonged bouts of writer’s block from time to time. In those moments, talent will only get you so far. You also need discipline to power you through periods when progress seems slow. Take the life of Muhammad Ali as a key example. As naturally talented as he was, Ali could not have risen to become the world’s most celebrated boxer had he not invested hours of practice to cultivate his athletic capabilities.
In my life, I revisit this quote often throughout the school year. There is a particular point, about halfway through the semester, when I’m in the middle of writing a 15-page paper while studying for midterm exams. The stress, under those circumstances, can be overwhelming. If I begin to doubt myself, I remind myself that willpower and determination is what counts the most. At the end of the day, that discipline is what will create a long, enduring success.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” –Maya Angelou
Throughout my college career, I have often consulted the wisdom of Maya Angelou. Specifically, this quote has proven to be helpful whenever I am overly self-critical.
As a student, I find it easy to fall into the trapping of perfectionism. While it is completely normal and healthy to strive for academic excellence, I sometimes perceive a minor mistake as a colossal failure. However, Angelou’s words have challenged me to reshape my perspective on academic performance. Since perfection in an unattainable pursuit, we should, instead, strive to do our personal best. While we will inevitably stumble, it is not an irrevocable failure. It is merely a mistake from which we can learn. Nobody is born perfect, and we will certainly never attain perfection as adults. Therefore, it is important to remember that life is a constant work-in-progress. There is no use in sulking when you make a mistake. Simply pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again.
No matter how alluring it may seem, perfection is a fiction. I have discovered that my best work is produced when I strive for continuous improvement rather than an unattainable ideal.
“Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.” –Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher, one of Britain’s most effective post-war prime ministers, was well-known for her conviction-led brand of politics (dubbed “Thatcherism”). To Thatcher, consensus was the undesirable practice of watering down one’s principles and beliefs in favor of a middle-of-the-road option that nobody wants, but that nobody can object. Such an approach, Thatcher argued, eliminated all choice from the political progress. While Thatcherism was a pervasive political philosophy in Britain during the 1980s, Thatcher’s philosophy extends well beyond a political context.
Standing in the middle of the road, as Thatcher puts it, represents the attempt to please the broadest group of people at once. It’s the common trap of the people-pleaser. Perhaps you may encounter this in the classroom, the workplace, or your friend group. However, it is impossible to please everybody. Your attempt to accommodate A may very well lead you to alienate B.
All this is to say, the attempt to please everybody is completely futile. The only path forward, therefore, is to live life according to your own principles and values.
“I like to think of myself as a perpetual student.” –Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand delivered these words in speech at Harvard University titled “The Artist as Citizen.” In the speech, Streisand addresses the criticism that celebrities receive whenever they comment on politics. Streisand defends the right of artists, writers, and performers to voice their political opinions, because she considers herself to be a citizen first and an artist second.
As a concerned citizen, Streisand expounds on the importance of remaining curious and open-minded. In this context, she refers to herself as a “perpetual student.”
As I soon approach the end of college career, I hear these words echo in the back of my mind. There is a misconception that our duty to be good students ends on graduation day. On the contrary, our status as student never ceases. Even if we earn advanced degrees, there is still always room to learn and grow throughout the course of our lives. When we graduate, we may no longer be enrolled students at an institution, yet our curiosity should never diminish. As I grow older, I will strive always to keep an open mind so that I can continuously learn from new voices and perspectives.