I Am Successful in My Own Little Ways!

"Success!"

I bet that's what my mama shouted when she successfully gave birth to a bouncing baby girl 21 years and 7 months ago. And from that day onwards, I want to believe that that little newborn was destined to achieve success in her life, and now she is writing her own "success story" on this platform.

"Success!"

I know I made my parents proud and happy when I eventually got to say my first word, chant a song, and learned to walk alone, after weeks or months of guiding me when I was still an infant.

I felt relieved when I finally got to write my full name on a pad paper without having any errors or erasures on it, after how many days or even weeks of practicing with my mama.

I already know how to count from 1 to 100, distinguish one color from another, read English and Tagalog words and books, got to write faster on my notebooks, and learned how to ride a bike at a young age.

"Success!"

That's what I cried out after successfully delivering my Salutatorian address when I graduated from Kindergarten because I know I have literally cried when I was still memorizing and practicing my speech for that one special day.

After 3 years of joining Math and Science contests on the District level, I finally got to land a place on a Math contest I joined in Grade 3, as a fruit of my efforts in reviewing and solving numbers.

After 6 years in Grade school, I finally graduated from Elementary as the second honor in our batch with a bonus that I got to deliver the welcome speech for our Graduation day. More than the medals and ribbons I got to receive that day, it's the feeling of fulfillment when I saw my mama beside me on that stage smiling because of what I have attained that mattered to me the most.

"Success!"

I was a little scared when I step my feet into my High School life because it will be different from Elementary. But I got to meet strangers and make friends with them that I still cherish the friendships made up until today.

"Success!"

I was nervous and afraid to join backyard and divisional campings but I still joined because I know it will help me develop my interpersonal skills.

I was able to travel to a different place for a regional encampment when I was only 13 years old, without my parents beside me even though I was frightened of what could happen.

I finished the community project that I've worked so hard on for a year at the age of 14, which gave me so many sleepless nights, early mornings, and financial, emotional, mental, and physical struggles. All of my sacrifices were worth it when I finally received the Chief Girl Scout Medal as my award.

"Success!"

This is what I felt when I got to memorize the poem in front of my classmates that our English teacher made us recite in class.

This is the same feeling when I got to solve the problem our Science teacher gave us and I was the first student to answer it correctly.

This is also what I felt when I successfully performed an English spoken-word poetry in front of more than hundreds of students, parents, and teachers for a school event.

"Success!"

After 4 years in Junior High School, we finally had our Moving Up Ceremony and I still landed as the 3rd honor amongst hundreds of students, and I got promoted as a Senior High School student.

After two years of battling with Research papers, surprise quizzes, and exams, I finally got to graduate from Senior High School and was lucky enough to graduate with Honors.

"Success!"

I took the Entrance exam at the university I plan to go to for college and I was able to pass the exam that allowed me to enroll in the course I want to take.

"Success!"

This is what I screamed when I finally reached the beautiful destination after how many minutes or hours of mountain trekking in the hills of Sagada.

This is also what I yelled when after being left breathless, I was able to reach the finish line when I ran a marathon.

I was also teary-eyed when I finally reached the summit of the 3rd highest mountain in the Philippines, Mt. Pulag.

"Success!"

This is what I felt when I got to answer all of the questions given in our exams in all of my subjects in college, even though I wasn't sure of my answers but I know I did my best and gave my all.

"Success!"

This is what I feel whenever I realize that I am almost through with my college life, and 2 more semesters to go and I will be embarking on another journey in the real world, and trying to live as an adult.

I am not yet successful in a way that I have a beautiful house with a swimming pool in it, a gorgeous car that will take me wherever I want, a bank account that will never run out of money, or a profitable business that makes me a boss.

However, I consider myself successful in these tiny ways I have elaborated above.

You see. For me, Success is a journey and not a destination.

Success is being able to surpass all of the challenges, trials, and struggles life throws at us. Success is being able to sleep at night with the feeling of fulfillment because you got to do what you had to do for that specific day. Success is about celebrating all of those you have achieved, no matter how grand or simple they are, because you've worked hard enough for them.

We don't have to be the CEO of a multi-million company, or be employed with a 6-digit salary.

We just need to enjoy the journey that we are in, and live life in the most satisfying way. It is us who defines our own Success, so don't be pressured with the kind of definition the society has established for us.

We all have our own definition of success, and I believe that we are all successful in our own ways.

This is my entry for the prompt: SUCCESS initiated by @JonicaBradley .