persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
I was rank 344 out of 475 in high school and had a weighted GPA of 2.4. I scored an 18 on my ACT. I was lazy, overweight and a smart-ass. I was… well, I was an underachiever. Somehow, I was accepted to my hometown’s university for the fall of 2011. I failed out. I passed two classes in as many semesters. Now, what does a man with no drive, no direction, and no purpose do? Well, he joins the Army.
I served for 3 years as an Infantryman in the First Armored Division. What an experience that was. I won’t go much into it, but, as any grunt can tell you, you gain a new perspective on things. The Army gave something to me that seemed to be missing.
When my time was up, I moved back home to the Midwest. My past university took me back for the fall semester of 2016. I was coming in with a 1.3 GPA if I remember correctly. A 1.3… Looking back on it now, I didn’t give a damn what my GPA was, I just knew I wanted to prove myself. I had to do better… I had to be better. In 3 semesters I brought my GPA up from a 1.3 to a 3.4. Now in my fourth semester, I am studying abroad in Europe.
While here in Europe I applied for a transfer to the College of William & Mary. It was the only school I applied to as it was the only school that I really resonated with. I was just accepted for the fall last night.
My purpose in writing this note is for all potential transfer students now and in the future; however, and more importantly, it is for encouragement to all the veterans thinking of either transferring or going back to school:
Don’t let your past performance and mistakes infect your thinking about what you can get out life. Whether it’s wanting to attend a top-ranked university or to get that dream job - Work hard. Bust your ass. And, at the end of the day, the right people will notice. Suddenly those mistakes are a source of humbleness and determination.
Whether you achieve success early in life, or, like me, there is a delay - success comes when we persevere.
*I am putting ‘veterans’ in the title for any potential future searches on Google or here on CC