My Inaugural Blog

Testing 1,2,3. Here we go… I believe it would make sense to me to explain what encouraged me to begin this. Travel back in time with me to March 2020. I was a high school senior who excelled in sports at a tiny school where word spread like wildfire. It is difficult to differentiate from the pack without being criticized since the school was in this close-knit environment. I found myself facing the excitement and uncertainty of my final year. The world was on the cusp of a major transformation due to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. Little did I know that the months ahead would be filled with challenges, adaptability, and a unique opportunity to focus on what truly mattered in life. As I began to cultivate new hobbies and become passionate about activities, other than basketball and sports in general, I was suddenly transitioning to college in a new setting with a plethora of time-consuming responsibilities. When I transferred schools to Maryland a year later, I was stuck with the same challenge—making friends, getting involved in extracurriculars, and adjusting to a new environment, again. Change is inevitable and must be embraced at all times. An anonymous quote explains, “What determines your destiny is not the hand you're dealt, but how you play the hand. And the way to plan the hand is to see reality for what it Is and to act accordingly.” Typically change and new habits have a positive relationship. Although change is often most rewarding when someone is by your side doing it with you, like going to the gym with a partner. When you wake up early and want to press the snooze button, you know someone else is relying on you and encouraging you to push yourself. However, with practice, you can become your own biggest supporter and partner to embrace and make the most out of change. For example, I spent four months outside of the United States and decided to write about my journeys to nine different countries and over forty-five towns and cities. After some eye-opening experiences, like wandering through extremely underprivileged areas of Africa, I began to write more about my feelings and thoughts. I learned more about myself through this process and found excitement as well as fulfillment in writing. A few weeks prior to writing this, I came across an individual named Graham, a CEO and Founder of a successful private equity firm. Graham is an avid blogger on the topics of leadership, self-discovery, and current events. I began to research other notable business figures and personalities that blog too—Mark Cuban, Richard Branson, and Seth Godin, to name a few. However, a few aspects stuck out:

1. The connection between physical resemblance, career pursuits, and shared hobbies. In a way, it's like looking into a mirror that reflects an older, wiser, and more successful appearance of myself

2. The difference in genuineness. Three of the four names I mentioned all sit closely under the public eye. They can be easily scrutinized by their company's board or shareholders for writing about an opinion they believe in that does not align with their respective company. This makes me question the authenticity of their words.

3. The importance of comfort. Social media, and the internet in general, make it easy for people to criticize and cyberbully behind their screens. The feeling of expressing an opinion on a blog is difficult and takes courage.

I went on to ponder the significance of these takeaways, delving deep into the idea of finding a kindred spirit in someone else who embodies so much of what I value. This is what pushed me over the hump and encouraged me to start my first blog.

I plan to write creatively and thoughtfully regarding the excitement in the process of self-discovery, the importance of working hard for professional success, and the lessons I have learned in my life and career thus far. I believe people need encouragement to stop caring what everyone else thinks. Try new hobbies and people will understand the fulfillment that comes with writing, sharing feelings, and not just agreeing on everything.