Skip to main content

2. No One Usually Cares About How Hard You've Worked

I'm sure someone does, but the flock only pays attention to those with publicity. Think about all the all-nighters that are pulled to make this world work.

Recognition is not given to everyone who needs it, and dealing with that fact can be tough on people who have such selfish personalities as myself. People complain about things much easier than what you may be dealing with, and they may be receiving more sympathy for whatever they struggle with. Sometimes, we get so busy with work that we don't even have time to complain about it. Meanwhile, those who still have the energy to whine get the sympathy. I don't mean to sound so shallow, but don't kid yourself into believing that all hard work pays off with recognition. And that's life. At the same time, if we feel this way, realize that millions of people feel this way too.

This doesn't mean we should just stop working hard the moment we realize we won't be recognized. We must just deal with this fact and move forward. At the end, if it's something we are passionate for, the hard work is naturally worth it. If it's for someone we care for, the hard work should make us happy; we are serving someone we love. If it's for school or something work related, the hard work is a rite of passage to better a position or career. These experiences and feelings are how hard work "pays off".

As I round out of high school, I realized that I worked hard all four years. Endless AP classes, community service hours, leadership positions, school events, and a physically/mentally exhausting extracurricular. However, coming out of it without whining (apart from this whiny blog post) and without getting sympathy makes me feel like a stronger person. I'm not saying I've never complained, but I persevered. I won't be recognized for it, for every student (more or less) has persevered through some sort of hardship, and the amount of hard work we put in is all relative. I'd be crazy to think I'm the only one who has worked hard. However, some things come more naturally to others, so some people are capable of doing more with less complaints. It's lucky and enviable, but again, it's life, and we must learn to suck it up and catch up.

I guess my overall message is that hard work is necessary in life; nothing is easy, but you are definitely not the only one working hard. Some people you meet may get more recognition than they deserve, but there's no need to pull them off their pedestal. Hard work is rewarding when people care about how hard you've worked, but the self-satisfaction of having overcome so much without losing your calm is pretty great too. I often forget this with my petty and self-centered attitude, but it's important to remind ourselves that we must be both our own heroes and biggest fans.

Comments

  1. We must be both our own heroes and biggest fans. What a lovely thought. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

12. Selective Spirituality is OK.

I was never too connected to my roots. At most, I’d slip in an out of cultural appreciation when cultural festivals were around the corner, or I’d occasionally look out into the nature and wonder how the world around us came to be. But sometimes I’d feel guilty for feeling entitled to these thoughts of awe and amazement at the universe- I thought I was the least spiritual p erson on the planet. I used to roll my eyes when people I knew talked about spiritual matters. I tuned it out. I thought being spiritual was lame or unrealistic. The world was just a result of chemical reactions to me. But sometimes , I realized it was a result of beautiful and awe-inspiring chemical reactions. I was under some angsty impression of myself that getting spiritual once in a while just didn’t fit my vibe. But more recently, I’ve realized it’s a blessing to see some of the things we see. I’ve gotten more in touch with my emotional side, and a lot more things move me than they did befo...

11. It's Okay To Eat Eggs For Dinner Every Day.

^ Best Cook   But eating pasta with friends is better. Studying abroad is more than just packing a suitcase and learning how to fend for yourself on trains. You also have to know how to do your own laundry, record your expenses, and … make food.  I was pretty confident in my pasta making abilities, but I didn’t think I was so lazy that I’d miss having a large frozen vegetables section at a grocery store. The lack of preservatives in my food and the long weekend trips I took deterred me from buying groceries in bulk like I was so used to in the United States. In fact, the last time I had bought a full load of groceries was back in 12th grade when my parents attempted to instill the smallest bit of adulthood into me. I spent the first year of college eating dining hall food, and “getting groceries” meant ensuring I had a decent stock of Belvita breakfast biscuits and Oreos. In Metz, I now was tasked with making use of a mini fridge, microwave, and two h...

4. Don't Look Back.

I finally cleaned out my room. I have a tendency of holding onto everything I feel has sentimental value- including essays, notes from a favorite class, club shirts, receipts from new cafe adventures. Some of these things I still refuse to let go (minus some irrelevant and on second thought crappy high school notes), but I took a second glance at my mountain of school shirts I've been saving as memories. Was I really going to haul a bunch of Beta Club and Science Olympiad shirts with me to college? Did I really need that many shirts as backup PJs? No. As I participated in clubs and volunteered at major events, the t-shirts I got were a major award to hold onto and literally wear. But now, I feel as if high school memorabilia has nothing on what college holds. I won't say high school wasn't an enjoyable time. I definitely learned a lot and am super thankful for the crazy experiences I've had. I've matured slightly and met a variety of personalities; these things ha...