[REPRESENTING THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA’S JOURNALISM PROGRAM]
PAIGE MARQUEZ - ENTRY 001: WHAT IS SUCCESS TO YOU?
Success is a subjective term. Every choice that we make alters our lives in various ways. From my college GPA to the anticlimactic ending of this year’s Super Bowl, victory or defeat is often the result of a simple decision.
Similarly, college student-athletes from all over the world are in a similar predicament. They want what everyone else does: success. However, they must also determine if they have the requisite skills and desire to go pro. And even if they do make it to “the show,” they eventually must choose a different direction and some other money-making endeavor (as not every player signs a $400M contract like Patrick Mahomes).
Without question, the most fortunate people out there are the ones that are able to pursue their passion – and get paid for it (via NIL deals or otherwise). You can’t knock that kind of hustle. So props to you, Mr. Anthony Richardson!
Upon arriving at the University of Florida, parental pressures initially forced me into pursuing a finance major with a pre-law track. A big corporate-law life was the goal but not my passion. After about a year, I found myself on the esteemed academic probation list.
Knowing it was time for a change, I chose to enhance my superpowers rather than ignore them. So I elected to pursue something that I always did as a side hobby: write. And I am happy to report that the switch from finance to journalism was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made.
This is a real example of success versus failure.
Choosing a major that I knew my parents would be happy with led me to quite literally fail. Though I take full accountability for my early academic performance (or lack thereof), I am certain that many of our society’s failures are mainly the result of people shying away from what they really want.
Like the old phrase goes: “Never fight for a mountain top that you’re not willing to die on.”
Regardless of what it means to you, I am on the path to success now. I can feel the momentum building – but it's important to remember that you can't cheat the process. It’s a daily routine of continual improvement, and I’m good with that. Aka: I either step my game up as a writer – or I’ll have no choice but to watch someone else take my headlines.
Accordingly, I am old enough to know that life isn’t a Hallmark movie. In this respect, it is all too easy to think that the choices I make are the right ones – and to imagine that I am magically better than the rest of the aspiring journalists that are out there.
Unfortunately, most of the time, talent only takes us so far. After a while, we learn it’s the passion we have paired with the willingness to go deeper into our work that truly produces the excellence that we desire.
On this note, Myron Rolle, a former Florida State football star, is a prime example of this. He always had a goal outside of football. He wanted to become a Doctor (he was inspired by his aunt – as he wanted to help people with brain injuries similar to hers).
In addition to earning his degree from Florida State, he attended Oxford University where he earned a masters degree in medical anthropology. Moreover, after a two-year stint in the NFL, he went on to Harvard Medical School where he's currently a neurosurgery resident.
Ultimately, Myron Rolle has worked tirelessly to elevate his name to the highest ranks of medicine – as I intend to do with my journalism.
Like me, Myron Rolle chose his passion and his happiness and his fulfillment over sheer earning potential (though I hear that Doctors do just fine for themselves).
At the end of the day, we make choices and we live with them. We aim for success and work towards victory – but we must also own our failures and learn from our defeats.
So what is success to you?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paige Marquez currently attends the University of Florida and is a CKTH Ambassador