As the leaves begin to float to the ground and beautiful
colors emerge, new opportunities for success seem to buzz around us. Success
comes only by taking advantage of opportunities that come our way. It is not
measured only by awards, but also by growth.
Throughout high school, I was involved in activities ranging
from FFA to Key Club to drumline. I enjoyed each one because of the fun people
and the challenges they provided. However, as you probably noticed, besides
being a Knights fan, sports were not included in my series of extracurricular
activities. If you have ever played sports of any kind with me, you have most
likely discovered my lack of experience and coordination. If you haven’t had this
great privilege, I can confidently describe my huge lack of athleticism. As a
result, FFA and 4-H became the activities I found opportunities for success in.
I discovered my pass
ion for agriculture, leadership and working with people
through my experiences in 4-H and FFA.
In my sophomore year of high school, I received a call from
the leader of the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program that would bring unexpected
excitement and growth to my life. She informed me I would receive the Angus heifer
at Beef Expo in less than a month after hours of hard work on an application,
essay and letters of recommendation. As a second year applicant, I worked
harder than ever to show the passion I had for my participation in this program
that connects youth to a family donating a beef heifer to raise, show and keep
records of.
Just a few weeks ago, Derek Stehr, a member of the
Zumbrota-Mazeppa FFA Chapter received a similar call. After snapping me
pictures of hours and hours of work on his application, Derek was informed he
would also receive the Angus heifer this weekend at the Minnesota Beef Expo!
Serving as a State Officer has many positive aspects, but my
absolute favorite part has been meeting members with a passion and drive so
evident they cannot hide it. When I met Derek as a Region VIII Officer, I knew
he would accomplish awesome things. So, as I waited impatiently for the results
of Derek’s application, I was overjoyed when I heard he would receive the Angus
heifer too!
But as a sophomore receiving my heifer, I could hardly
contain my excitement for what was to come and the potential for success I saw.
I thought “Hard work + Passion = Success.”
However, I would compete in Creed Speaking just days before receiving
my heifer and discover the contrary. After weeks of practice with my advisor
and English teachers, I was prepared to recite the FFA Creed with excitement
and passion (to the point that I once woke up in the third paragraph of the
creed in my sleep). As I entered the room, I was more nervous than expected and
made a mistake. I started the paragraph again, answered questions, shook the judges
hands and walked out of the room relived I was still alive, but disappointed
the event I spent hours preparing for seemed to be destroyed in just minutes.
Results were posted and I hadn’t made it on to the next
round. Although I knew I hadn’t accomplished the goal I had worked so hard for,
I discovered something more important than an award-winning Creed Speaker.
I discovered “Hard Work + Passion = Growth.”
Although my disappointment quickly vanished as I rushed to
Beef Expo, this equation would lead me through my high school career.
The beautiful fall season brings opportunities ranging from
football and volleyball to National Convention to One Act and concerts. No
matter what goal or aspiration you may be working towards, hard work and
passion are the key to success. However, this success may not always come in
the form of an award or a winning game. This success may come in the form of
growth, growth that could spring from disappointment or an unreached goal, much
like my Creed Speaking CDE. Growth is carried from one goal to another and no
matter how or when, the growth we gain through experiences will help us in the
future.
My high school experience was full of stress, excitement and
goals that were both reached and unreached. By deciding I was no good at sports
of any kind, I missed out on an opportunity to try new things and left no chance
for this growth to take place. No matter what you’re focused on, try things you
believed you were not good at because PASSION + HARD WORK = GROWTH, growth that
could bring you personal success and inspire those around you to also step
outside their comfort zone and achieve.
Do more of what you love, try what you think you hate and
find your passion and dedication for growth, no matter what success looks like.
Stationed by the ear of corn,
Valerie Earley
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