Kyle Parikh ’18, Business and Ad/Circulation Manager
‘When I grow up, I want to become rich. I want to own a big house and a nice car. I want to raise my family in a good environment.’ These things have been said by just about every single first grader who didn’t say something crazy like a ‘cowboy’ or a ‘fish.’ So many of these people who previously knew exactly what they want to do with their lives then go on to be something less desired by themselves. These people who never accomplished their dreams of becoming a cowboy should never quit, because goals never have a due date.
In America, people are met with an intimidating crossroads at the tender age of 18 years old; they are tasked with deciding what the rest of their lives will be. So many people become discouraged by how far they are from their goals and ultimately decide to settle for a life they do not want to live. I do not believe that making the wrong decision at 18 spells out imminent failure in one’s near or distant future.
April 10, 2018 was a special night for basketball player Andre Ingram. This date marks the gray-haired Ingram’s NBA debut. Ingram had been playing in the NBA’s minor league, commonly known as the G-League, for ten years until he was finally given the chance to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. Before he became known by millions for scoring 19 points during his first NBA game, he was making $20,000 a year playing basketball while also tutoring middle and high school students for extra money on the side. Ingram is a symbol and icon to many as he is competing with the most elite athletes on the planet, even though he is much older than most of them. As his basketball career comes to an end, he finally has his childhood dream realized after many patient years of hard work.
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Laker, saw his legendary basketball career come to a conclusion in 2016. Bryant has a reputation for being obsessed with basketball. He committed every breathing moment to becoming a better basketball player his obsession found him working on his game for hours a day, seven days a week. Many people questioned how Bryant would fair after his NBA career was cemented in the history books, but Bryant now looks to prove himself in a brand new venture: ‘storytelling.’ His continued hard work has even led him to win an Oscar award for the ‘Best Animated Short.’ His ‘storytelling’ abilities were only starting to be developed at the age of 35, and he finds himself at the peak of a brand new obsession. He had his initial dream taken away from him when he became too old to play in the National Basketball Association, but he was able to completely reinvent his purpose and leave an impact in a brand new way.
Scientist Charles Darwin was 50 years old when he published On the Origin of the Species, the same work that is taught at schools all around the world 159 years later. These studies were based on observations he made back in 1831, as he took part in a five year voyage across the the world on the HMS Beagle. He spent the next 28 years polishing his ideas. Finally, after a lifetime of hard work, Darwin was able to spread his ideas. Whether or not you agree with his findings, Darwin’s success at age 50 is enough evidence to prove that goals never have a due date.
Persistence and patience is key in accomplishing big dreams. These are just a few of the millions of instances that prove your dreams are more feasible than you may believe. Life will give you many opportunities to give up; you are going to experience hardship. You are going to struggle. You are going to get knocked down, but the most important part is to get back up. You must continue to shoot for the ‘impossible,’ because there is no such thing as something being unachievable. The payoff is just as sweet at 70 years old as it is at 26; however, if you quit on your dreams too early, you will never get to experience what it feels like to finally accomplish a true life goal.
Photo courtesy of the official Los Angles Lakers
Lyon Life 