Recently, I was told by a professor that I wasn't talented. After a stream of internal profanity, a session of questioning my life and existence, and then reminiscing for all the things I've achieved I came to the conclusion; she's right.

I am not talented.

Since the beginning of my life never has ever been handed to me, nothing has ever been easy. Being born wasn't even easy, I was born nine days late!

I am not talented.I am a hard-worker. I have worked since the young age of 14 doing various jobs. Including cleaning houses of my grandparents, crocheting hats and selling them in the high school black market, and other random tasks. Eventually I took a job at the local Kmart and worked five days a week while I should have been being a kid.

I am not talented. I am driven. I am driven by the fact that I wasn't born into money or fame. I don't get free college, tax-breaks from the government, or checks from my rich grandparents. Anything I have ever wanted, I had to work my butt off to get. My first car? My 1996 Chevrolet Camaro Rally Sport? At 16 years old, I paid cash for a sports car. Cash that I earned working at Kmart and those random jobs. Cash that wasn't given to me by anyone else. I am driven because I only get one chance at life and I better not ruin it now.

I am not talented. I try new things. Because that's the only way to grow. In order to learn and experiment you have to try new things. Rather that be a new form of dance or an attempt at cooking cultural food. I want to learn and experiment. I don't want to be stuck at harbor, I wanted to go out and find harbors that I can experience.

I am not talented. I stand my ground. Yeah, I'm probably entitled. You can say I'm intimidating, I really don't care. I've had to raise Cain at the Dean's Office. I've walked out of a job that wasn't abiding by laws. My morals and values are above money. I might be a hard-worker but I know who I am. I don't want to have dirty money in my bank account. I don't want to be friends with shady people. When someone tries to force me into corner, I stand my ground.

I am not talented. I am successful. While still in high school, I attended a two year technical school. My chosen educational trade was automotive collision repair technology. That means I went to school to fix dents and paint cars. Not only did I attend a technical school I even managed to graduate early. So you're right, that's not being talented. That is being successful.

I am not talented. I've had to come out of dark places. It was in some of my darkest times and places that the best opportunities opened up. In a time that I was questioning what my purpose was came an opportunity to write for The Odyssey. I've always said that my spirit animal is the phoenix. The legend of the phoenix is the story of a bird that dies in flames to rise out of ashes. There's nothing in life that describes me more.

So you're right, Professor. I am not talented. How dare I attend a school to perfect a skill. Shame on me for wanting to better myself and build up a resume.

I have never heard anyone say that Coco Chanel was talented, I've only heard she was successful.

Zelda Fitzgeraldtried new things.

Stevie Nickscame out of dark places to write some of the most famous songs.

I don't want to be remembered as talented because that only defines the skill. I want to be remembered as driven, hard-working, successful. Because I'm not talented, I am so much more.