Page 58 - Keys To Community College Success

revisit RISK AND REWARD

What happened to Raider? All too aware of the conse- serve as opportunities to find
quences of falling back into anger, Raider risked working out what you are capable
hard and challenged himself to sit in the front row in every of. Name a challenge—or
class. “All the students were smarter than I was,” he says, challenges—that you face
“but I worked a lot harder than they did.” His work now. Consider what might happen if
rewarded him with two years of straight As. Raider com- you avoid this challenge. On the other hand, con-
pleted his undergraduate degree at Pepperdine, keeping the sider what growth and rewards wait for you if you risk
hard work going despite failing chemistry more than once. facing it with hard work. As you think the situation
He then earned a medical degree from Georgetown Univer- through, be specific about what that hard work looks like.
sity Medical School and completed his internship and resi-
dency at the University of Chicago Medicine. What risk may bring reward beyond your world? Part of
Now married, a father, and a fellow in cardiology, he Raider’s mission as a successful professional is to reach
plans to continue taking productive risks by focusing his out to families and young people who need him as a role
medical practice on disadvantaged communities similar to model. Although you might not think of yourself as a role
where he grew up. He also speaks out—both in person model, the fact that you are here beginning college says
and in a public service announcement made by the Cali- that you have something to offer. Think outside yourself
fornia Wellness Foundation’s Violence Prevention Initia- and consider who looks up to you—a younger family
tive—about the public health issue of violence, hoping to member, a friend still in high school, someone in your
save children and families from its brutal consequences. neighborhood, someone you know from an online
group. Consciously act as a role model to that person.
What does this mean for you? Everyone has challenges to You may be surprised at how your actions can provide
either face with risk-taking or avoid. These roadblocks can rewards for others.

ACTION
RISK
RISK ACTION

FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE REWARDS

Complete the following on paper or in digital format.

KNOW IT Think Critically

Activate Yourself
Robert Sternberg found that people who reach their goals successfully have 20 particular charac-
teristics in common that motivate them to persist. Each of the “I” statements in the list below
26
identifies one of the characteristics.

20