by Patrick Hebble

When asked to write this piece, my initial reaction was, “Oh man...there’s no way I’m going to have time to do this.” This seems to be the theme of junior year: So little time and so much to do. Despite knowing that time was sparse and that I probably could not say anything that had not already been stated myriad times, I decided to take up the challenge.
You have all heard the incredibly insipid, and even intimidating speeches regarding the notorious junior year of high school. I am not going to lie and affirm that junior year is a walk in the park, but with the right outlook, one can not only survive, but triumph during junior year. What separates those who view junior year as a nightmare from those who view it as a dream come true is their ability to deal with obstacles—how one reacts to bumps in the road. Those who back down from challenges, who see obstacles as hindrances, tend to be less successful; however, if one sees obstacles as opportunities, as chances to roll up the sleeves and flex the guns, then one will have substantially more successes.
As much as working hard seems pointless, time-exhausting, and painful, there is one (and only one) thing worse than the pain of hard work: the pain of regret. So, next time you feel like bagging your studying fifteen minutes early to check your Facebook, or your legs tell you to country-club it for the last ten yards of a sprint, just remember that all your suffering is miniscule compared to the feeling of regret.
One important thing to remember is that you win some and you lose some. Exhibit A: The first time I took the SAT’s I performed, to put it politely, sub-par. At that point I knew the game, the players, and how the game was played. I saw the challenge as an opportunity and I took the SAT’s again with a vengeance. The result: I scored 190 points higher. Exhibit B: The Class A qualifying time for the mile this spring was 4:40 flat. Entering myself into the “Last Chance Meet,” I had one final shot to qualify. I prepped myself to the best of my ability that week, getting as much sleep as humanly possible. The day of the race I was ready to go, ready to compete. I ran a 4:41.
As much as I foster this idea of viewing challenges as opportunities, I know I have a lot to learn, and often fail to practice what I preach. As I look back on this exciting year, I realize that hard work is directly proportional to success and enjoyment. I see that the highest points of my year have come from working hard, while my biggest disappointments stem from laziness. In addition, I realized that life is not just black and white, not just winning and losing. I have come to realize that, while second place may be the first loser, failing to succeed with one’s best effort is profusely more gratifying than winning half of the time and throwing in the towel the rest.
I understand that many people may not agree with what I have to say, but that is perfectly okay. I just know, from first hand experience, that when confronted by the locked door to junior year success, one’s ability to see the auspiciousness in challenges is the key to getting through, and finding the potential treasure that awaits on the other side.