Written By: Angela Mujukian
1.) You're almost at the finish line. Remember, it's a marathon -- not a race.
You can't see it, but you're oh so close. You must keep going! What doesn't kill you can only make you stronger, right? Although it may seem like when it rains, it really pours, there are always rainbows after the storm. Let go of whatever is holding you back, and allow it launch to you into something bigger, better and greater. Step out of your comfort zone. Someone once said, "If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough." No one can help you climb the mountains of life. No one is going to witness first hand all of the pain, failure, hardship and betrayal you have to experience. The only thing people will ask you once you reach the top of the mountain is, 'How did you do it?"
2.) It will be worth it.
Years of hard work, going into debt and many sleepless nights, will all be worth it in the end. The blood, sweat and tears you put into living your dreams will soon pay off. It's not about the destination, it's about the journey. Getting to your destination despite all of the setbacks, will cause you to appreciate your success and not take it for granted.
3.) You owe it to yourself.
Do you remember when life knocked you down? Who was there to pick you back up? No one, right?
Yes, our friends and family are present to a certain extent, but responsibility starts from within. Your motivation should not be to prove anyone wrong. Your motivation should be to conquer your fears and create the best version of yourself -- without the approval of others.
Remember, while many don't recognize it, you have more bite and sting than Rocky Balboa. You have to work twice as hard as everybody else, just to get half of the results. This is what separates the "good" from the "great" -- making moves, taking the initiative and getting results.
Maybe you're not the rabbit, maybe you're the tortoise. Slow and steady wins the race. The tortoise won the marathon. Through increased patience, deep self-reflection, a strong positive attitude, a yearning to learn more, and a will to achieve more, good things are bound to happen. It doesn't matter how long it takes. What matters is that you developed a sense of personal growth and integrity. What matters is that you didn't give up. What matters is that you believed in yourself. What matters is that you worked hard all the way to the finish line.
Listen, there are people who are going to think you can't do it. So what? You owe it to yourself to keep going and finish what you started.
The purpose in failure is to learn from the mistakes that were made. We learn not to make the same mistakes twice and to appreciate where we are when we get there. If life was always good, we wouldn't have the desire to make it better. We would not progress and move forward if we did not have setbacks, obstacles and detours. Learn from each detour, no matter how short or long they are, then turn yourself around and keep going. No one said the road to success would be a straight shot. In fact, it's long and wavy, with many bumps and curves along the way. So grab your gear, hold on tight, and enjoy the rollercoaster ride.
Be the Rocky. Be the tortoise. Be you. Prove it to yourself. You're almost there. It will be worth it. Just keep going.
LA native Angela Mujukian is a Medical Student at St. George's University, Elite Daily Campus Ambassador, and Jedi. When she's not being a Wizard on the wards, or doing research at Cedars-Sinai, she is co-authoring the best-selling book series and movement, 20 Beautiful Women: Volume 3 Edition. Graduate of UCLA, earning a B.A in English, Angela is trained by the LA Times as a News Reporter/Viewpoint Columnist for Daily Bruin. Tackling her dreams one patient or blog post at a time to make the world a better place. Angela's gift of tenacity, strong-will, and a refuse-to-lose attitude distinguishes her as an unstoppable force.