Chapter 3 Make me or break me

The road from youth to young adulthood is one of significant self-discovery and important decision-making. The road to adulthood became more obvious as I entered my senior year of high school, albeit it was still a very unconventional path. This period of my life was characterized by decisions that would lead me down a less beaten path and place my pursuit of my goals above the beaten paths of convention.

My future goals and aspirations that had developed during my adolescent years still influenced how I saw the world. I became seriously  disatisfied with just doing well in school; I wanted to have a real impact on the world. I wanted to emulate those people whose deeds had influenced history and left a lasting legacy, people I had long admired.

I had developed a reputation in high school for loving discussion and speaking in front of groups. My haven was the debating club, where I could have passionate debates about everything from politics to ethics. I had an epiphany that would determine the trajectory of my journey during one of our debate tournaments.

The topic of the debate was "The Responsibility of the Privileged." As I argued for the affirmative side, I found myself immersed in a discourse on social justice and the moral obligation of those with means to uplift those in need. It was during that debate that I realized the power of words and persuasion, the ability to ignite change through discourse and action.

This revelation fueled my passion for social entrepreneurship. I understood that business principles could be harnessed to address social and environmental issues. It was a fusion of ambition and altruism, and I was determined to explore this avenue further.

I also got quite interested in a young leadership council at this time. Our projects went beyond the walls of the school, and we started initiatives to deal with issues from the outside world. One of our most significant projects involved raising money for a local nonprofit that helped and educated children from underprivileged homes.

In my life, this election season was crucial. Building a sense of community was a goal in addition to promoting awareness. I have seen firsthand how working together may improve the lives of those who are less fortunate. It served as a concrete example of my opinion that the ability to positively impact other people's lives is what truly distinguishes greatness.

I had to make a crucial choice as high school came to a conclusion. Although it was expected, the conventional path of going to college didn't fit with my vision. In order to learn and develop in a practical setting where I could put my passion for making a difference to use, I wanted to fully immerse myself in the field of social entrepreneurship.

I made the audacious option to take a gap year, which alarmed my peers and occasionally sparked mistrust from my family. The choice to leave the classroom and enter the world of change was motivated by a desire for experiential learning. My parents, who have always been supportive of my goals, inspired me to pursue and follow my heart and explore the unconventional part

I actively looked for internships with businesses that shared my goal throughout my gap year. One of my experiences inspired me to join a nonprofit organization that works to provide clean water to underserved communities. It was a humiliating event that made me aware of the enormous difficulties people in underdeveloped areas face. I saw firsthand how access to clean water might significantly improve a community's health and general quality of life.

My second internship introduced me to a social organization that produced artisanal goods with the intention of giving neglected populations long-term work. It was a hands-on lesson in the value of economic freedom and the ability of entrepreneurship to effect change for the better.

During my gap year, I came across people who had dedicated their lives to making the world a better place. They inspired me with their knowledge, enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment. I came to the conclusion that the road less taken and away from traditional academic activities was the one where I could make the largest difference.

I had to make a significant decision as my gap year came to a conclusion. It was time to continue my education, and I knew that a conventional college degree may open up interesting learning chances. But I did want to integrate my passion for social entrepreneurship with my academic achievements.

I set out to discover colleges with social entrepreneurship programs, and I was fortunate to be admitted into one that shared my philosophy. In addition to actively participating in programs that attempted to bring about positive social and environmental change, it was a location where I could complete my education.

The change from high school to college was filled with intense enthusiasm and anticipation. It signaled the start of a brand-new chapter in my life, one in which I would continue to nurture the goals that had led me from childhood to adolescence. It was a chapter where I would choose to take the less-travelled path.

Soon I started college but it wasn’t as I thought , no one really forced anyone to attend lectures and be serious . It was assumed that everyone is mature enough to make decisions on their own , decisions on when to attend classes and if to attend classes or not . I needed that push like I normally got from high school but it wasn’t here anymore , this made me lose focus.

But after high school , as far as I can remember everything took a drastic turn, I mingled with bad friends that influenced the way I thought . Education was no more my priority, I only needed to get the girls and go to all the happening parties around college just to impress . I would drive the fanciest cars to school and get all the girls on campus , I derailed from my plans badly .

I was full of confidence because I was the only child and I knew everything that my father owned will come to me , if I work for it or not , that mentality made me lose focus and I stopped attending my classes . Just parties I attended .

Series of bad decisions shaped me to who I am today , it put me in this mess I’m in right now . If only I learned how to stay fateful to one lady . Maybe I wouldn’t be in this mess today . I let out a huge sigh .