A Presentation.On how to be great.

By Taylor BrimENG 287 – Life Stages in Literature

May 8th, 2013

A Presentation.On how to avoid mediocrity.

By Taylor BrimENG 287 – Life Stages in Literature

May 8th, 2013

A Presentation.On how to be awesome.

By Taylor BrimENG 287 – Life Stages in Literature

May 8th, 2013

When I was a little girl…

I was afraid of the dark.

I was afraid of the dark.

I thought that when the lights went off, monsters would come out.

I was afraid of the dark.

I thought that when the lights went off, monsters would come out.

And that monsters loved to eat little girls like me.

I’ve grown up since then.

But sometimes, I still get afraid.

I worry about new monsters now.

I worry about new monsters now.

What is to become of my future?

I worry about new monsters now.

What is to become of my future? Will I find a job after graduation.?

I worry about new monsters now.

What is to become of my future? Will I find a job after graduation?

What if I’m a failure?

I worry about new monsters now.

What is to become of my future? Will I find a job after graduation?

What if I’m a failure?What if I disappoint my parents?

I worry about new monsters now.

What is to become of my future? Will I find a job after graduation?

What if I’m a failure?What if I disappoint my parents?

What if no one thinks I am a good writer?

Sometimes, these monsters are so scary that I just stay in my bed all day because it’s comfortable.

But one day, I read this true story about a boy around my age for my English literature class.

His name was Chris McCandless.

And he was an adventurer.

At the age of 22, he left everything behind and hiked in to the wilderness to live a life of solitude.

He saw a lot of beautiful things and wrote about them.

.

You could say he was a little crazy, but very brave.

(Maybe a lot of crazy.)

But he was smart.

In his journal, he wrote about facing the unknown:

In his journal, he wrote about facing the unknown:

“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future.”

I could not stop thinking about the words, “They are conditioned to a life of security…” And how they applied to everyone. Even little girls.

And so it clicked for me.

In order to avoid being mediocre, you have to step out of your comfort zone.

Change is necessary. Change brings personal growth, flexibility, improvements, life values, strength, progress, opportunities, new beginnings as well as a replacement in the routines followed.

Sometimes this change is scary.It is unknown.It is your monster.But that’s okay.

Because a life of monotony is a waste of adventure.

Because a life of monotony is a waste of growth.

Because a life of monotony is a waste of greatness.

So whenever I start to worry,

I remember Chris McCandless’ words.

And how I cannot be afraid of the dark forever.

Instead, embrace it.

Because it means you’re growing.

Because it means you’re growing. learni

ng.

Because it means you’re growing. learni

ng.improving.

And then, it’s impossible to be mediocre.

The End.