Here at Albuquerque Academy, many people are known for their accomplishments. Just by looking at the Academy’s Instagram page, it’s easy to find something about a student qualifying for a national competition or being recognized for something incredible. The pressure here starts from the 6th grade. Sometimes, even an A isn’t enough. Lots of people already worry about college in 9th grade. Even with all the help, it still seems like a lot. With all the gifted people here, ask, “Why not me?” If they can do it, what’s stopping anyone else from doing it? They’re at the same starting point. The Academy gives us many opportunities – it is just a matter of what the student wants to do with them. So I ask, why not you?

Sometimes, failure happens, and that’s okay. All that can be done is to keep going forward. It always seems the journey is over, just after one loss, but the journey is still on. It’s like hiking a mountain. It’s not a straight line; there are ups and downs, but the result is worth it. Even after a fall, keep walking. No matter how big the setback is, quitting will never be an option. Failure is not the end of a journey.

Failure isn’t easy, nor is it something small. You never ask for failure. It can come in many ways. It’s unbelievable at first, whether on a test, in a game, college admission, job, internship, etc.. But at the end of the day, what’s done is done. Failure is an inevitable part of life that sometimes can’t be stopped or changed. But what can be done is to stop fearing failure. Failure isn’t something to be proud of, but it can’t be the end. Failure is something that is feared, but it’s not what is feared; it should be. The fear should be not getting the chance to fail.

What’s not okay is quitting. Failure is one thing; not trying is another. Just because failure happened doesn’t mean it’s time to walk away. Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s time to quit. Success can not be achieved easily. Growth only comes by leaving an area of comfort. Without growth, there is no success.

There are times when we all wonder, “Why shouldn’t I quit?” Well, some don’t, and well, they no longer dream: they live the reality of their achievements. A dream goes from imagination to real life. Usain Bolt trained for 4 years just to beat 9.58 seconds in the 100-meter event. He threw up almost every day and, on some days, ran slower. Yet, after all the pain, he chose to keep going, and it paid off. He broke the world 100m record and became the fastest man to have ever lived. Look at Steph Curry. He was always told he was too small and had glass ankles. As a junior in high school, no college wanted him. He had every reason to give up basketball, yet he didn’t. He kept working hard and believing, and now he’s known as one of the best point guards in the NBA.

But working hard isn’t enough. Success comes to those who want it badly. Do you want it bad enough? Obsession always beats talent. Anyone can have talent, but not everyone can have an obsession with something. Obsession is sometimes the first step to success. Ignore the doubts for one second, and just do it. Forget the odds, the haters, and the doubts. The successful don’t focus on the odds; they concentrate on doing what it takes to be successful. Anyone can be successful, but not everyone will be. Success will only come to those who want it bad enough and are willing to put in the hours. If you want it bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen.

So keep your head up, Academy, and keep trying for greatness! And if you fail along the way to success, remember: failure is not the end.