For as long as I can remember, my Parents preached and instilled in my brother and me a simple philosophy on life. Undoubtedly ahead of its time, it is a philosophy on life which I will always follow and for which I will always be thankful. While my parents instilled many different lessons in my brother and me, their simple philosophy on life is this:
“Always do the best that you can--we cannot ask, or expect, any more of you than that."
"Strive to give your best, not anyone else’s best."
"Some days you will be able to give a lot, and some days you will only be able to give a little."
"Know that no matter what, we will always love you and be proud of you."
"Always follow your bliss—explore what your interests in life are, search within yourself to find that about which you are most passionate (your "bliss"), and completely turn yourself over to your bliss so you can live the life that God intended you to live.”
Adapted to fit in with our family’s strong Catholic faith and drawn from a few different sources, this philosophy can mainly be attributed to none other than Joseph Campbell, one of the great American mythologists, writers, and intellectuals.
As a professor, Campbell had been advising his students to follow their bliss for quite some time. Campbell then inspired and deeply changed millions of people across the world when he discussed “Follow Your Bliss” with Dr. Bill Moyers in the documentary “Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth”, which first aired on PBS in June 1988.
Though instilled in me at a young age, I wouldn’t realize the significance of this philosophy until my high school years at Jesuit High School. While my grade and middle school years were relatively low-stress and pressure-free times, that changed in a quick and significant way upon entering high school. Jesuit’s motto is the Latin phrase Age Quod Agis, which literally translates to English as “Do What You Are Doing”. However, Jesuit students, faculty, alumni, and parents translate it to mean “Do Well Whatever You Do”. This brief list of achievements leaves no doubt that Jesuit students “do well whatever they do”:
In 2010-2011 (my freshman year), Jesuit sports teams won 7 State Championships. By the time I had graduated, our sports teams had won 30+ State Championships.
Jesuit has won the Oregon All-Sports Award (most State Championships) every single year since the early 1990’s.
Jesuit has won the Oregonian Cup (high school with the best overall athletics, academics, activities, and sportsmanship) consecutively from 2004-2012.
Multiple students have earned perfect scores on the SAT, ACT, and sometimes both.
Every year there are multiple valedictorians (4.0 GPA) who go on to attend some of the best colleges and universities in the nation.
In the Class of 2014 alone, there were 9 National Merit Scholars and 13 National Merit Commended Merit Scholars.
70% of Jesuit students who take AP Exams earn a 4 or a 5.
These achievements are a testament to the hard work and natural abilities of the people who earned them, but they also unintentionally create pressure for all students to achieve at this level. At the same time, the college application process has increasingly stressed the importance of being a “well-rounded applicant”— a 4.0+ GPA, high standardized test scores, multiple extracurricular and service activities, plus unique and varied interests. The achievements Jesuit students are well-known for, coupled with the insane workload and schedule required to be a “well-rounded applicant”, created the persistent, overwhelming fear that one was inadequate.
Instead of constantly battling a feeling of inadequacy, I became content with the fact that I wouldn’t have the best grades or test scores, I would never compete in major college sports, and I wasn’t going to attend an Ivy League school. In no way, however, did I feel as though I was "settling". Rather, by accepting what I could and couldn’t accomplish, I finally grew to love myself for who I am.
Surrounded by this culture and environment, by no means unique to Jesuit High School, I constantly reminded myself of what I was taught by my parents —“Give your best, pursue your interests, and follow your bliss.” I realized that giving my best effort would allow me to pursue amazing and incredible opportunities. By giving my best, I was able to prove my worth on the Varsity football team and earn significant playing time as we made it to the State Championship Game. In Track and Field, I was able to transform my previously marginal success into a 6th Place finish in Discus at State, helping my team win a State Championship. Additionally, I was chosen to co-lead a Kairos retreat of 70+ students. While giving “my” best may not mean I am “the” best, I have been incredibly blessed to accomplish all that I have.
My parents chose to name me Nathaniel, a Hebrew name that means “Gift of God”. I was, and still am, perfectly okay with not having the best grades or test scores, not competing in college sports, and not attending an Ivy League school. Recently ranked the #3 Catholic institution in the Nation by College Choice.net (behind Notre Dame and Villanova), Creighton challenges, motivates, and accepts me in ways that no other school could. I will always strive to give my best, pursue my interests, and follow my bliss. In doing these things I will be living the life I was always meant to live, I will be proud of myself, and I will have proud parents, too.
