The Beginning

So here it is, I'm finally done with school. 22 years of working towards the piece of paper I'm going to be handed in a few weeks. I've surprised myself with how little I have been effected by the thought of entering the "real world." Last year I would've thought for sure this would've been an incredibly frightening moment of my life, but it hasn't phased me yet and I really don't think it's going to. Sure I may become nostalgic here and there as I walk around campus, but in no way am I not ready to leave. Letting go of the college lifestyle is something that must be done.

When I think back to a few years ago, who I was back then, I can't help but be amazed at how far I've come. Berkeley, the Bay Area, will always be the place where I realized what I am, and what I can be. I will never forget about it, the adventures, the people, the good times or the bad. Before Berkeley, I was a boy doing all that he could to appear like a man. Now I can confidently say that I no longer just appear to be a man, and I have this place, those people to thank.

I now know who I am and what I am. I am a leader, someone who demands respect, someone who will do things my way, someone who won't just quit. I used to care about what everyone thought about me. I never thought people would ever or could ever see something worthwhile in me, but now I see how foolish all that was. I'm not on this planet to follow, I'm not here to make everyone happy. I'm here to be great and I won't let myself get held back by people who don't know what they are talking about anyways. I accept that failure is a possibility but I promise myself that I won't let it stop me. I won't rest until I've proven any doubters wrong.

I have a message to anyone who may decide to try and knock this train off its tracks, anyone who will try to bring me down...good luck. Don't make the mistake of underestimating me, don't try and pull one over on me. Anyone who thinks they can use me as a pawn, I'll show you how wrong you are. No one will stop me from making my life what I want it to be.

For me, this ride has just begun and I'm ready to stop talking and start doing, I'm confident that when all is said and done, I won't be disappointed.