Throughout my childhood, my parents constantly instilled in me the principles of hard work and determination. They taught me that if I set out to achieve my goals and work arduously towards them, then without a doubt I will accomplish them. This mentality of working hard and never giving up has been the backbone of my two pillars of life: academics and athletics.

In the movie “Lone Survivor,” Marcus Luttrell, a former United States Navy Seal who fought against Taliban forces in Afghanistan, addressed his comrades in one of the most poignant and simple monologues in all of pop culture. He states, “listen, men, whatever it is that we experience today, I want you to remember one thing. You are never out of the fight.” Whether or not the men Luttrell spoke remembered his message, one thing is certain, I remembered it.

Taking on the difficult course load that is required of all pre-med students is not a leisurely stroll in the park. After many nights of working copious hours and still not fully conceptualizing the material, I often find myself questioning why I am taking such strenuous courses and if I really have found a passion in the field of medicine. However, I am able to dispel all those negative thoughts and feelings when I remember that I am still in the fight. No matter how burnt out and upset I may feel about not understanding a certain topic, I am never out of the fight. This means that I have more to give and cannot lose focus on the goals I have set moving forward. Yes, I may take a break and relax, but when the time to grind is presented, I will be ready and seize the moment.

As an athlete of Emory’s track and field program, I am often faced with adversity. Endurance sports are very demanding and taxing on the body. Some days I may not be in the right mindset to push my body and dig deep. I may feel worn out and tired. But, at the end of the day, if I am not willing to push myself and do the work, then I will be doing a disservice to myself and my teammates. They understand that throughout a hard workout, no matter how tired and weak you may feel, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel and the fight is not yet over.

With the sheer dedication and grit I have watched on display time and time again from my parents, it is no wonder that the lessons they have instilled in me have been such an instrumental force in my life. I have learned that hard work truly does lead to success and I look forward to tackling the next obstacle that life throws at me.