Teenfluencer Nation by Kiera Colson

Author:Kiera Colson [Colson, Kiera]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kiera Colson
Published: 2022-07-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHARACTERISTIC FOUR

STANDARDS

Real sacrifice means giving up what you want now for what you want most.

—Tim Tebow

Your muscles pound. Sweat flying. Body aching. You beg your eyes not to look away from the target. Cross the line before the buzzer sounds, and all of this will be worth it. You feel the timer ticking as the line draws within feet. The buzzer sounds as you take one last step, tumbling to the ground.

Did you make it?

•••

I believe the way to success is to identify one focus and give yourself to it 100 percent. We all have innate dreams, destinies, and purposes, just as we have the need to breathe.

I know how hard it can be to want to do everything. But I also know how unrealistic and self-destroying it can be to do everything.

At one time in my life, I was running a business, playing basketball, leading Student Council, running youth group activities, and taking honors classes. I was able to sustain this for a season, but as things started to pile up, I noticed I was beginning to break down.

I knew I could not do it all, and I was faced with a decision.

I had to dedicate myself to one thing and then position other priorities as second place. For some opportunities, I must learn to say no. What we dedicate ourselves to will change as the seasons of life change. Maybe you realize that you need to dedicate your time and efforts to school, a relationship, or a sport.

In tenth grade, I wanted to be the best basketball player on my team. It was a desire that came from my drive for competitiveness.

I do not like to lose. Does anyone?

On the court, as I said before, I struggled on offense. I knew that to improve my game, I had to become a shooter. To do this meant letting go of my free periods that I had been using to study. This extra hour a day gave me one-on-one time with my coach.

On weekdays, I would change from weightlifting and then shoot three-point shots for an hour with my coach.

With no time to change, I would throw off my shooting shoes, throw on some unfashionable yet comfortable Crocs® and race outside into the academic building just in time for chemistry. Drenched in sweat, red as a tomato, I was never late to class, even if that meant running through the rain to go from the gym to the academic building.

It took three months of this routine before I became a three-point shooter. It was worth it, even though I never got to showcase it in a game. My teammates and coach saw my hard work. This commitment paid off.

Now, you might be confused, and you might be asking, “Kiera, if you loved basketball so much and if you practiced so hard to achieve your goals, why did you stop playing basketball after that year?”

Your priorities change.

What you feel deserves your full attention and effort will change.

Personally, when my sophomore year

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