Like Rosa Parks once said, "no."

It's a word that has been around since the beginning of time. In fact, it's many baby's first word that they ever speak. It's definition is pretty straight-forward: I Refuse. Nah. Not gonna happen. I'd rather not.

"No" is a make or break word. The difference between "yes" and "no" can be a life-changing convention.

"No" can determine your future. "No" can save you, or it can defeat you.

It causes anxiety. Will he say "no" if I ask him to homecoming? Will the coach say "no," they don't have a place for me on the team right now? Will my mom say "no" to me going on this date? Will my professor say "no" when I ask to curve this really important grade? As you can tell, the word has a profound effect on all parties involved. It's a make or break moment.

But what if I told you that "no" means nothing? What if I told you that the anxiety surrounding the convention could instead be replaced with determination, persistence, and passion, thus leading to greater success and triumph?

"No" means nothing. Obstacles mean nothing but perhaps extra time needed on the road to success. Then again, nobody said the road was going to be without bumps. Forget the "no." Focus on the you that you know. The one who doesn't give up. If you have a dream, you have to go through with it. On the road to success, people may deny you sometimes, which can defer you from continuing your hard work. You may get discouraged hearing the rejection. It's easy to do when someone tells you that you're not good enough, that you aren't ready, that you don't meet their standards.

This is when you know it's time to work even harder. The word is arbitrary. Did Rosa Parks get up when the man told her she couldn't sit in her seat? Nope. She said "No, no I wont get up."

Like the University of Southern California's slogan goes, (my dream school as everyone knows), "Fight On."

This quote is so important to me because, of course anything USC says is Gospel in my mind, but even more so because of the significance of the words. They have such an empowering effect on me. Fight On. Persist. Let no obstacle force you into a complex of fear and anxiety. You are good enough. If somebody doesn't want you, make them want you. If you want something bad enough, you won't give up. Nothing can stop a determined person from getting what they want.

"Nevertheless, she persisted."

Persist in the name of the dreams that you must reach. The goals that you must accomplish. The barriers that you must break. The expectations that you must exceed.

For that little girl or boy inside of you, who believes in the beauty of his or her childhood dreams. Who is to stop you from moving to LA and pursuing a career in the arts? Who is to stop you from becoming a big-time lawyer in Chicago?

The only person that can genuinely tell you "no," is yourself. Everyone else is just a minor setback.

Tell yourself "yes."

That's when "no" will stop mattering.