So two posts ago I asked Paige to inspire me, and being the Miss Paige I know I can count out, she has. I felt that I need to share this inspiration here. I know that posting this will probably make her cry (again), but its pay back for making me cry every time I read her response. In true Paige fashion, I'll address this in list form, and then end with a quote :)
1. Inspiration goes both ways. Paige told me that for all the times she inspires me, I've inspired her as well. We can't live this life alone, and as much as Paige says she couldn't do it without me, I know I couldn't do it without her. Thank you Paige, for everything, mostly the mile long facebook messages you read from me, and send back to me, equally as long. Please continue to be the one "lighting the fire" beneath my ass. Thank you for all the smiles, and all the tears <3
2. Baby Steps. Paige brought baby steps full circle for me, to all aspects of my life (something which I've come to appreciate, this concept of first circle). She wrote, "You are taking these steps to having a better college experience, to become a better runner, to become a better person! No one can run without taking baby steps first!" I couldn't have said it better, the importance of these baby steps in everything I do, not just running.
3. The struggles will be worth it. Paige wrote to me right before I left for SC, and now that I've returned, I can believe that. She applied these struggles of running, to my college experience thus far, and after being at Clemson for the last few days, the struggles of Clark have been worth it. I spent a lot of time thinking about how my senior year of high school could have been different, and if I should have approached the application process differently. I have no regrets about where I applied and what happened, I am happy that I went to Clark (Mom, did you see that? I'm happy I came to Clark!), but only because I never would have found Clemson without it. At any other school I went to, I probably would have stuck it out for four years, and been semi-happy. Because Clark has been so far from the experience I want, I've found Clemson, and I believe I can be truly happy there!
4. Self-Motivation. Sometimes its hard for me to recognize how much I have done, and have pride in that, especially when I'm not in an environment I thrive in, or when my current accomplishments seem petty in comparison to past accomplishments, but Paige was able to open my eyes to that again. She was right, I don't give myself enough credit for battling through a second ACL surgery in a year, and coming back with goals and aspirations as high as mine are. Paige claims that millions would have given up but she told me that "not you nicole schutte! You didn't give up....you took everything that was thrown at you, and said "suck it world, you don't know who you're messing with"
so yeah, suck it world, you don't know who you're messing with!
Like I said, I'll leave this in true Paige fashion, with a quote.
Life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it
-Maya Angelou
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