I have spent a good amount of this semester being distracted (but not deterred) by certain individuals that seem to almost go out of their way to try to make others as miserable as they themselves may be. The good news is that I have an amazing family back home that continues to support me and provide me with advice as I engage in new and difficult interactions with said individuals.
"Don't let them get to you. People have to always stir up drama if their life is boring."
Parents (the auntie and uncle) always know exactly what to say to put a situation into perspective. I'm 25 years old and welcome every bit of advice that they give me. Anyways....back to the bullies. I know that they were put in my path for a reason...for a lesson. As much as I hated the situations and issues that these individuals caused with me, I truly appreciate the lessons that they taught me this semester. I know that these are definitely lessons that I needed to learn now so that I will be more prepared and better off when I enter into my profession. Thank goodness for learning these now and fine tuning my skills in handling them!
I've adopted this mantra for several reasons. I know deep down what an amazing individual I am and have become through all the personal challenges and adversity that I was faced with throughout my life. I know that I have a very bright future and am fully embracing the greatness that comes with it. I definitely am not here to prove myself to anyone. I'm most definitely here to work harder than I've ever worked to pursue and earn my DVM so that one day I can practice medicine and give exceptional care to someone else's companion/family member and make my mark on the world of veterinary medicine.
"The true leader serves. Serves people. Serves their best interests, and in doing so will not always be popular, may not always impress. But because true leaders are motivated by loving concern than a desire for personal glory, they are willing to pay the price."— Eugene B. Habecker in The Other Side of Leadership
I can definitely relate to this quote. I have a leadership role within my class and sometimes this position has definitely led to a lack in popularity amongst my future colleagues. However, I am not interested in being the most popular classmate. I am more interested in serving those around me with this role. Truly I am. In the midst of serving others, I think I forgot to serve myself on several occasions this semester.
But instead of looking in the past and wishing something was handled or done differently, I'm moving forward as always. Always looking to what's ahead and how to better prepare myself for the future.
I think the biggest lesson this semester has taught me is to just be true to myself and all that I am. If you continue to be good to everyone around you, there isn't much room for them to really hate you, and if that is the path they choose, then let them be and one day they will learn the lessons that they need to learn and get past that type of decision.
"Dont ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance, and my kindness for weakness."
You couldn't have said it better, Meghan.
ReplyDeleteIt's rather pitiful when the only power some can achieve is through obnoxious, negative behavior.
These individuals are simply lacking themselves. So glad you aren't giving them any more power/attention than you must.
Did I ever tell you about the time in law school that Katie was blindsided by a few venal gals who define a word that rhymes w/"witches"?
Joe & I were in Philadelphia visiting her & Joe had to do a little research for a client while we were on the mainland. So while Katie was in the law library & I sat reading, Joe was going to the card file and getting his stuff spread before him on a desk.
Later when we were back home in HI Katie's class "big brother", Raj, told her that he overheard these gals say that they saw Katie's dad doing research for her and they were going to inform the professor of the class.
Joe had Katie find out how to call the woman and he "informed" her alright. He told her what he was doing on a tax matter for his client and hoped the gossip hadn't poisoned Katie's reputation w/ the teacher.
She hadn't been approached by them yet but appreciated the heads up and was prepared in the event that they did come to her regarding their desire to achieve "fairness" for themselves and sabotage Katie.
Lovely. What had she done to engender their animosity? You don't have to do anything. Jealousy is often the root of this sort of thing.
She graduated, got a good job, passed the bar. She probably wouldn't recognize them if she saw them again on the street.
The moral? Folks like this are just an irritation you can navigate past and ignore. It's just pathetic that you run onto snipers occasionally in all areas of life who will pop up when you least expect it. It does hurt your feelings for a minute or two. Welcome to the human race, darling.
Aloha nui,
Auntie Donna
Thank you Aunt Donna for that reminder and great story :)
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