First-Year Student Journals : C.J. : Journal 9

C.J. | Profile | Reflections | Journals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Out-classed

Doubt entered my mind when I decided I’d be attending The University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 2003. Questions entered my mind like, “Am I smart enough for UT?” or “Will I be able to keep up with all of the other smart and talented people at this university?” Basically, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to make it here.

As I sit and write this journal, I don’t want to deceive you by using the past tense when I refer to those feelings because, while not nearly as bad as before, the thought occasionally crosses my mind. To give you an example of what I mean, one time, I was around friends who were discussing their SAT scores. The scores they shared were about 1400 and 1300. I remained quiet, because mine aren’t nearly that high. I didn’t graduate number one in my class. Actually I snuck in at the back of the top ten percent of my class. I don’t have any amazing gifts or talents that I have been developing since I was a kid, like singing, playing an instrument, etc. The only thing I had was basketball, and on top of not being too great at that, my career ended in my junior year of high school with a severe back injury. Why am I here? I’m just a regular guy. I’m not good enough for UT.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I’ve received e-mails from students who are interested in coming to UT, but they’ve shared with me that they’re intimidated. They’re worried, like I was, if UT is too hard, of if they’ll get lost in the shuffle among so many other talented and intelligent people. Believe me, I’ve been there.

Don’t let this university scare you. Turn that fear into the very thing that fuels you to take on the challenge of conquering this university. I came up here determined not to let this university take my joy or separate me from the growing relationship I have with Jesus Christ. I knew before getting here that this university would not break me. I took my classes very seriously. I attended every single one with the exception of maybe a couple due to extraordinary situations. Basically, I put forth a great amount of effort and got great results.

I finished my first semester with a 4.0.

So now as I reflect on my past, I come to the conclusion that maybe the fact that I snuck in through the back of the top 10 percent cutoff at my high school or that my standardized test scores were average is a testament to the effort I put forth. I put forth a halfhearted effort and got average results. I am now a firm believer that there’s no hurdle you can’t leap, if you put forth the effort to do so. You can’t expect something great if you’re putting in an average effort to achieve it. Right?

Out of the Box

Fine. So what if I’m not incredibly talented or incredibly smart? Does that mean I can’t be a part of incredible things? Of course not. I enjoy college for many reasons, but what I enjoy most about it is it gives me many opportunities to do things I’ve never done before.

What’s the point in staying in the box? In high school, it was easy to be labeled by something, like being the class clown or the jock. It was even easier to be defined by the people you spent most of your time with. It’s very easy to settle into those roles or labels. You can get to the point where you’re comfortable being the class clown, for example, and you let that label define your actions. This is restricting. Instead of growing, you’re content with staying in the confines of the box.

In college, it’s time to step out of the box. Do not be restricted. Use this time to discover what you’re capable of. I have to tell this to myself most of the time because I struggle with being comfortable in the box. This year, I have pushed myself to expand. I want to know what all I can and can’t do.

I’ve always been the type to settle. It’s very easy for me to stay in the box. I learn what I’m good at, and I stick with it. I don’t give myself an opportunity to do anything else. So, this semester especially has blessed me with a number of different firsts in my life.

Stepping…Singing…A year ago, if you told me I’d be doing this, I’d laugh at you. Stepping? I have no rhythm, but here I am in a fraternity that steps on the regular. Singing? I haven’t sung since I was in a choir at my church years ago and honestly I doubt I was actually singing. Nevertheless, I’m a member of Innervisions Gospel Choir.

But here I am, doing exactly what I thought I’d never do because I figured it just wasn’t me or I wasn’t capable of doing those things.

What I’ve learned from all of this is that you cannot limit yourself because by limiting yourself you prevent yourself from having the opportunity to reach your full potential. Should many of you who are still in high school choose to come to The University of Texas at Austin, you owe it to yourself to take full advantage of the opportunity you’ll have here because of the time and the money you’ll put forth. You’re paying for UT, and I guarantee you every cent you pay is taken advantage of by the university. Likewise, take advantage of every resource the university has to offer.

Something you want to know? I’ll address it in my journal. E-mail me at JaHeeZy689@hotmail.com. I’ll try and respond to e-mails within five days of receiving them.



	C.J. \| Profile \| Reflections \| Journals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Home
	Out-classed Doubt entered my mind when I decided I’d be attending The University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 2003. Questions entered my mind like, “Am I smart enough for UT?” or “Will I be able to keep up with all of the other smart and talented people at this university?” Basically, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to make it here. As I sit and write this journal, I don’t want to deceive you by using the past tense when I refer to those feelings because, while not nearly as bad as before, the thought occasionally crosses my mind. To give you an example of what I mean, one time, I was around friends who were discussing their SAT scores. The scores they shared were about 1400 and 1300. I remained quiet, because mine aren’t nearly that high. I didn’t graduate number one in my class. Actually I snuck in at the back of the top ten percent of my class. I don’t have any amazing gifts or talents that I have been developing since I was a kid, like singing, playing an instrument, etc. The only thing I had was basketball, and on top of not being too great at that, my career ended in my junior year of high school with a severe back injury. Why am I here? I’m just a regular guy. I’m not good enough for UT. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’ve received e-mails from students who are interested in coming to UT, but they’ve shared with me that they’re intimidated. They’re worried, like I was, if UT is too hard, of if they’ll get lost in the shuffle among so many other talented and intelligent people. Believe me, I’ve been there. Don’t let this university scare you. Turn that fear into the very thing that fuels you to take on the challenge of conquering this university. I came up here determined not to let this university take my joy or separate me from the growing relationship I have with Jesus Christ. I knew before getting here that this university would not break me. I took my classes very seriously. I attended every single one with the exception of maybe a couple due to extraordinary situations. Basically, I put forth a great amount of effort and got great results. I finished my first semester with a 4.0. So now as I reflect on my past, I come to the conclusion that maybe the fact that I snuck in through the back of the top 10 percent cutoff at my high school or that my standardized test scores were average is a testament to the effort I put forth. I put forth a halfhearted effort and got average results. I am now a firm believer that there’s no hurdle you can’t leap, if you put forth the effort to do so. You can’t expect something great if you’re putting in an average effort to achieve it. Right? Out of the Box Fine. So what if I’m not incredibly talented or incredibly smart? Does that mean I can’t be a part of incredible things? Of course not. I enjoy college for many reasons, but what I enjoy most about it is it gives me many opportunities to do things I’ve never done before. What’s the point in staying in the box? In high school, it was easy to be labeled by something, like being the class clown or the jock. It was even easier to be defined by the people you spent most of your time with. It’s very easy to settle into those roles or labels. You can get to the point where you’re comfortable being the class clown, for example, and you let that label define your actions. This is restricting. Instead of growing, you’re content with staying in the confines of the box. In college, it’s time to step out of the box. Do not be restricted. Use this time to discover what you’re capable of. I have to tell this to myself most of the time because I struggle with being comfortable in the box. This year, I have pushed myself to expand. I want to know what all I can and can’t do. I’ve always been the type to settle. It’s very easy for me to stay in the box. I learn what I’m good at, and I stick with it. I don’t give myself an opportunity to do anything else. So, this semester especially has blessed me with a number of different firsts in my life. Stepping…Singing…A year ago, if you told me I’d be doing this, I’d laugh at you. Stepping? I have no rhythm, but here I am in a fraternity that steps on the regular. Singing? I haven’t sung since I was in a choir at my church years ago and honestly I doubt I was actually singing. Nevertheless, I’m a member of Innervisions Gospel Choir. But here I am, doing exactly what I thought I’d never do because I figured it just wasn’t me or I wasn’t capable of doing those things. What I’ve learned from all of this is that you cannot limit yourself because by limiting yourself you prevent yourself from having the opportunity to reach your full potential. Should many of you who are still in high school choose to come to The University of Texas at Austin, you owe it to yourself to take full advantage of the opportunity you’ll have here because of the time and the money you’ll put forth. You’re paying for UT, and I guarantee you every cent you pay is taken advantage of by the university. Likewise, take advantage of every resource the university has to offer. Something you want to know? I’ll address it in my journal. E-mail me at JaHeeZy689@hotmail.com. I’ll try and respond to e-mails within five days of receiving them.