Journal Gems: Anyone Can Achieve Greatness

Erik Gray's journals
#journalgems

An excerpt from a "personal letter_obstacle" written for a scholarship application

January 21, 2011

I received a lot of help, but at the same time I used my trial to help those around me. To the best of my abilities, I kept up a positive attitude and showed everyone that I was not going to give up. I was determined to kick this illness, and I would do it with flying colors. I kept working hard in school, and that showed my peers just how strong I could be with something as difficult as this was.

To make the best of this experience, I looked upon everyday as though my life was just normal. It wasn’t close to normal, but I did my best to make it seem like it was. When I woke up everyday, I counted my blessings. I focused on the good things in my life, and that each new day brought me one day closer to being cured. It was a long road, but step by step, I made it.

Like I said before, trials happen to everyone. Any trial, great or small, will make a person grow stronger. Going through cancer has definitely helped me grow, and I feel that I am more grown up today because of my illness than how I would be today if I never would have gone through what I did. From this trial, I have learned just how great and precious life is, and how we must hold on to it dearly, and make the absolute best of it that we can. When I am older I want to be a doctor, so I can help kids that are suffering from illness and disease, just like I did. I’ll let them know that they have a future, and it is very bright. All they need to do is to reach out there and go for it, and they can succeed in what they love. Anyone can achieve greatness, as long as they are willing to step toward it.