Editor’s Column: Why I push for success

When I am done with this week, I will have completed a sports selling competition, two photography projects, multiple selling simulations, among other various projects. I’m already somewhat tired, yet I’m pushing harder than ever.

This past weekend, I reminded myself why I push so hard to be successful.

For me, it’s simple, I want to support my parents. I want to retire them by the time I’m 30 or 35. Or at least make sure that they are living comfortably as I continue to grow up.

For most of my life, my dad has worked from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. He would spend hours on end working these management positions. Starting ten years ago up until last year, my dad would have to travel from Lowell to Flint to work at this company. He would leave when we kids would be leaving for school and wouldn’t get back until 8 p.m. That’s not to mention when he would just stay the night at my grandma’s place in Brighton.

It made good money for the family, and we’ve been lucky to live comfortably. Then last year, they fired him. Ten years for nothing. Right in the middle of the pandemic.

Luckily, he’s found jobs with his resume in the trucking management industry. Yet, I worry consistently that the jobs could dry up for him.

The feelings I felt after observing my dad trying to find a job in the middle of 2020 is a major factor in why I’m trying to be both as successful and make as much money as I can. This money isn’t for me; I’m content with $2,000 to my name. I want to make money so that I can start taking care of the family around me.

I don’t want to see mom or dad struggle to make money. I want to be a supporting leg for both him and mom. I feel that is the least I can do for raising me, supporting me, and always being there for me. They’ve always been there for every move, both good or bad, that I’ve made.

They’ve raised three amazing kids who are getting ready to take the world by storm.  I’m just the start.

I’m not trying to be successful just to see my name on the front page of any major newspaper or make any sort of name for myself. I’m not interested in that.

My goals have always been to take care of people that I care about. My family comes first, then my friends, then the people that I see can make their own mark on the world.

Why do you think I like writing feature stories so much? It’s so fulfilling for me to give people the recognition that they deserve. That’s the reason why I started down this path, to tell amazing stories about people who have put in actual effort to be happy or successful. It allows me to shine my little spotlight on them.

This goal to take care of people leads to me caring so much about this staff. I want them to leave their mark on this world. They feel like that mark can be made through journalism. When I feel like they are doing a good job, I am happy to show their work to the world.

If they can be happy or successful, then I feel like I’ve done my job. I want to give people the opportunity to be successful.

I don’t know where my drive for success is going to take me, whether if it’s journalism, marketing, or something else that I don’t really know about. But know that whatever I get into, I will bring a ferocity that I intend to be unmatched. I’ve got people who I care about to take care of.

My best advice for those who are trying to be successful is that every once in a while, you should remind yourself why you are doing this. Why you are pushing to be successful. Is it because you do want to see your name up in lights, on a big screen, or anywhere with recognition? Is it because you have people that you are taking care of?

Whatever the reason is, evaluating this drive for success will give you the energy to continue pushing through the back end of this semester.