I was always taught to think outside the box, to think beyond what others did, but weren’t all of us? We were all told to be creative, better than the rest, to beat out our competition just so we could be on top. But did we ever wonder what was on top? Was it just another championship win or a medal worthy run? Maybe it was a full ride scholarship to our dream school, but is that necessarily considered to be the top for all of us? I consider a simple "thank you"to be the top for me, but how am I supposed to know? I stand here breathing with two working thumbs and friends right by my side. I really couldn’t ask for anything more, but I will always wonder if that’s the top. Is the ability to breathe and function in our society the top, or is it just the top for me?

I’ve been told I care too much by the majority of my friends, but I don’t strive on others losing like they do. Other people are focused on themselves and not anybody else. So maybe I’m the only one that considers myself at the top, but does it really matter? No, and I don’t need other peoples opinions dragging me down so if you think differently, keep it to yourself. Though you see some people just can’t do that. It's like they enjoy bringing people around them down. It’s almost like it boosts their self-confidence, and, believe me, I’m everything for confidence in oneself, but don’t hurt other people for it. And definitely do not say you are then at the top because at that point what even is the top?

If we as individuals want to drag each other down, we are never going to get there. We will be climbing this mountain, but it will feel like we are jumping hurdles as we descend downwards because we will never get there. The top will then be a dream. A dream that one day will hopefully become true. But will it ever? Will anybody ever realize you can’t just work on yourself? You have to incorporate the world around you into the picture, and then maybe you will finally be climbing up.

Though if for one moment you give up or think twice about wanting to be on top you, will never get there. You have to believe in yourself the entire time, or all of this will just be a dream. I am a living witness of this because now I am at the top. I have put others before myself, and I have believed in the impossible when times were tough, but now it is all over because I have reached the top. So believe me, friend. Stop dragging others down and start helping them out because one day you will need their support to help achieve your biggest dream. Then by having their support you have finally reached the top. The top is not the person with the most money or the person with the highest GPA, but it is the person that cares and puts other people's needs before their own.