Growing up, I heard the word self-discipline regularly. It was always my dad who brought it up. He liked to say, “success demanded self-discipline.” This value-driven into him being at the Air Force Academy. Therefore, he wanted to pass it on to his children. He instilled the importance of self-discipline at a young age and guided us to live by this moral guideline. According to the dictionary, self-discipline is defined as “the ability to control one’s feelings and overcome one’s weaknesses; the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it.” Being self-disciplinary to me was a life-long challenge that I felt as if I was too strict or limiting myself; however, this value has guided me through my academics, sports, and future life plans.
Eventually, I could become my mentor who can keep reminding myself of the greater goal which I should pursue rather than remaining narrow-sighted towards my life goals. It is an attitude that incorporates self-control, inner strength, perseverance, resilience, grit, overcoming challenges, hard work, and dedication. Monitoring yourself is one of the most important and useful skills a person can possess and is essential in every area of life. A successful person uses self-discipline to set goals and eventually accomplish them. When I was two years old, I started competitive cheer, and my passion has never wavered but instead intensified for the sport ever since. I knew that I wanted to be the best; I wanted to make the most profound team in the nation, knowing self-discipline would be required. It took one moment for me to decide what I wanted, and I was going to work for it. I persistently worked and devoted countless hours outside of practice. I tried skill’s I hadn’t done before, and I started seeing progress. I would get groups together and learn new stunts. When gyms shut down over quarantine, I would go to the football field to perfect and refine my hard floor tumbling. I watched videos studying the athletes mimicking what they did.
When the big tryout day came around, I was more than ready. I was confident in my passion, ability, and training regardless of the outcome. Why did I practice so much? Was it required? Nope. It was a choice. It was what I wanted. I wanted to get better and better. My repetitive actions over and over again became significant results that led to my mastery — the opposite of complacency. To be disciplined is the persistent desire to do better. To be disciplined is always looking ahead, pointing towards the direction of your destination. To be disciplined is to invest, day after week after year. To be disciplined is prioritizing your time, resisting temptations, and knowing when to say no. To be disciplined is always getting back on your feet even when you fall. You will get back up, try again and again until you succeed. The combination of self-discipline, passion, and perseverance made my dream of becoming a college athlete come true. Nothing in life has made me more proud than achieving this goal. Not only because I have the talent, but for how hard I worked to get here. My experience taught me the importance of self-discipline and how to strategize the value and reach my potential. I am thankful for the lessons I learned and wouldn’t be half the person I am today without juggling these commitments.
Through my experiences, I’ve learned that my road towards success comes from within my drive to remain disciplined. A value so deeply instilled in me that controls my every essence as a person. I now realize sticking challenges out and maintaining my goals will allow me to become a winner. Whatever I set my mind to is possible, and there is no goal too big that I can’t achieve. If you had told me seven years ago that I would be where I am today, I never would have believed you. Being involved in a sport that I am so passionate about has shaped my values, identity, and the person I see myself. I reach my goals and make the promises I speak a reality. The practice of self-discipline is forever evolving in my life.
