Perseverance and Resilience

Dear Lake Worth Community High School Senior Joezer Pascal,

     This is Joezer Pascal writing to you. However, it is not the Joezer Pascal that you thought you knew or the Joezer Pascal who you once were. This is not the Joezer Pascal who was in middle school and would often be silent in class but deep in discussion in his mind. This is not the Joezer Pascal who did not know of the challenges that would be posed by attending college; moreover, this is not the Joezer Pascal who knew that college would be difficult but would carry on through the difficulties that might arise. This is Joezer Pascal -- the College Freshman. This is the Joezer Pascal who has had the blessed opportunity to go through a grueling first semester at Vanderbilt University. This is the Joezer Pascal who knew the challenges that would be posed by attending college -- the Joezer Pascal who has had a miserable first semester performance but continues to keep his head up, striving for greatness and lined up for success. While it has definitely been a complete change of pace, scenery, and people, as a famous person once said, "Hope runs eternal."

     I write to you in order to inform you that, as a result of this current hindrance, it is more important than ever for you to carry on toward the road ahead. As many have told you countless times before -- and as you yourself have failed to accept thus far -- failure is imperative to growth. But I will provide you with advice that others have told you but isn't always recalled immediately, "Either you win or you learn." For descriptivity, vividness, and perspicuity, the classes at Vanderbilt will beat you; the classes will spit on you; the classes will trample you. Each and every day -- it will seem -- the classes will attack you from every angle and with premeditated, calculated killing intent. As you yourself have done in the past, you will continue to stand up, relax, breathe, and carry on; I have no doubt about that. Unfortunately, walking through the fire will simply not be enough. I know you remember, however translucent, that Sir Andrew Barton supposedly said to his sailors in battle, "Fight on my men. I am hurt, but I am not slain; I'll lay down and bleed a-while, and then I'll rise again." You are no Sir Andrew Barton. As the blood drips from you and the bruises form upon you, stand up! Fight back! Persevere! Continue ON! Pick yourself up, and retaliate against your classes instead of simply persevering; amazing grades won't simply be attained by working through it all without any spectacular results. I'll try to end with 2 other adages that should be rooted deeply in your psyche, "Greatness is not a destination. It is a journey of constant and never-ending improvement." And as your faith prevails, never forget Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Many have come to Vanderbilt and succeeded. To be in the presence of the best of the best, you must perform at a greater level than the best of the best. Just picture it, succeeding in the classroom and then getting to hopefully succeed on the baseball field. Godspeed to you.

Respectfully,

Joezer Pascal