Patience is a hard concept to master. Mind you, this is coming from someone who hasn’t mastered the discipline yet. While this is a struggle for many, there are hidden gems for those who are able to fully understand the importance of patience.

Showing patience means practicing humility. I think there is a tendency to get frustrated when things don't go your way, with people, situations, or just your hopes and dreams. It's easy to look at someone else and see what they've accomplished, especially if it's what you've hoped for or even waited for. You get jealous, develop envy and then try to compensate with material things, or whatever gives you a quick sense of happiness for the feelings you've developed.

If you don't compensate with material value, you'll compartmentalize mentally, which could be a far more dangerous avenue. Or, you get pushed into a deep depression because you’ve grown tired of waiting. Fret not, this doesn’t make you a bad person. It proves that you're a human being who struggles just like the rest of us. The hard part about all of this is practicing humility in these situations.

The first tendency is to react emotionally which in some ways is healthy. The trouble comes when you stay in your emotions and let them lead the way because then it's about you. You can't come to grips with the person who you're envious or jealous of. Humility allows you to look beyond yourself and truly be happy for the person while maintaining the hope that you will be rewarded for your patience in due time.

Patience brings perspective. When you're forced to practice patience, you learn a lot about yourself and reality. Here's an example. Football is a very aggressive sport. You work hard, lift weights, run sprints and practice hard to get yourself in the best shape possible in order to get playing time on the field. One of the most frustrating things as a football player is not getting playing time. But if the coach puts you in and you're not ready, you run a greater risk of being hurt.

Sometimes with patience, perspective is reality. The reality of some situations is that we're not ready for what we're waiting on. We have to learn and grow, and be prepared for what we're waiting, or asking for. One of the best quotes that I've heard and one that resonates with me is "God's delay is not His denial." As a Christian, this is a tough quote to digest and in some cases comprehend, but it's full of hope. This quote does not just apply to Christians, but anyone who grows weary in waiting. The perspective could be that you're not ready yet, or maybe what you're waiting for is not meant for you, and something different and better is for you.

If you stay patient and don't settle, the reward could be far greater than what you asked for. Unfortunately, I learned this lesson the hard way at a young age. In Elementary school, a friend of mine promised that she would bring me a pack of starburst. I was so happy, and I remember when she came to school the next day I asked her for them. She didn’t have them. A few days turned into a week, and I grew impatient. She didn't have them like she said she did. She kept telling me to wait, and I didn’t. One day, I told her that if she gave me the Starburst that she had with her, she didn’t have to worry about bringing the pack that she promised. She gave me two Starburst, one yellow and one pink. I was satisfied. The very next day, she brought a box of Starburst. She showed me the box and told me that they were for me if I would've waited. I wish I would've waited, but I learned a very valuable lesson that goes beyond candy.

Sometimes, you have to be patient with people, no matter how long it takes. It's easy to push people to the side when you grow impatient with them. But everyone has a different journey, and it might take a person a little longer to get to where they're meant to go. In those times, it never hurts to have a helping hand or support along the journey. I'm thankful that God Himself, as well as people He's sent in my life, are patient with me because if this wasn't the case, I would've given up a long time ago.

The points that I've shared are some things I'm learning as I go through my journey. I graduated high school several years ago, and technically, I should be done with school and beginning my career. But it didn't work that way. I went to Valencia College and flunked a math course, and ended up staying there a year longer than expected. When I got into UCF, I didn't pass the grammar proficiency test that gives you access to the Journalism program and I had to take and pass an alternative course that got me into the school.

I certainly had my low points, and some days I still do. But I wouldn't change a thing.

I've met some incredible people who have come and gone, and I've matured and grown as a student and as a person. Sometimes I'm low on patience, and instead of being anxious, I have to be more patient.

The bottom line is, patience is a virtue, but it's also a pain. When you ask for patience or pray for patience, it's not automatically granted - it's developed through situations that give you the opportunity to develop patience. So remember, be patient. And when all else fails, be patient.