Ma + turity = Maturity: The Equation to Putting it Together

(Ma-turity) * (Imma-turity) * (–turity): Putting YOU Together

We strive to be the best, but do things that the best do not do. Why? We are immature. We live the life that everyone else lives because that is what we see and that is what society conforms to. As a college student, I am still working to find myself and discover where I am headed in life. I do not want the bull____. I want the life that God has planned for me. I want the life that is real, not one copied from another person or one created behind a curtain. I’ll go through the ups-and-downs and I am completely fine with failing, as long as I learn and grow from my experiences.

You have a first name, most have a middle name, and you have a last name. What does it all mean to you? For me, I can be Austin, or Austin Baker, or Austin McClain Baker. Sometimes I do not represent myself well or I fail because I do not try and therefore, I am just Austin. But I strive to be Austin McClain Baker every day because why should I be here if I am not living to my full-potential? Give all you have every day and never for an instant, think about shorting the effort you give.

With all of the experiencing and all of the ups and downs, I have realized that life is too remarkable to worry about the failures; overlooking the beautiful sights life places in front of us. I have learned from many to value myself and value who I am because life is filled with people who will take you for granted, even if they do not mean wrong. Well, I have been given the advice, and now I am applying it.

I am growing tired of meeting the people who promise a promise, but only give you their back when they forget. I search for people who are motivated, passionate about life, family-oriented, and ready to step out of the immature phase. What is that immature phase: The constant idea that life is going to give you success, that you can party every day, that you can cheat life, and that you can just watch while the world is falling apart. We are at an age that the responsibility to act and live with maturity is imperative and expected. We are the leaders of the world and it is our turn to start taking initiative.

I am on a route to where, I do not know yet. But I have made changes to my mindset and it is clear to me that I have just a couple years left until I will either be working for myself or working for someone else. It is up to me to decide what I want and it is up to everyone else reading this whether or not they want to be their own leader or whether they want to follow the college degree path and let their resume choose it for them. Take initiative and make the decision for yourself. Do not let your degree or any person determine your value or your future.

Be the best you can be. Only you can measure that. Be your first, middle, and last name because you mean something. Be a person of maturity and not just –turity. Put it all together and represent yourself to the highest level nobody would ever expect. Live a life appreciating the people you encounter and the moments you share with them. There are going to be good times and there will be rough times, but you must stay driven and follow the arrow God has pointed out for you. You are never lost, only misguided by overusing your mind and not trusting The Lord. God will place people in your life to teach you what you do not know, and you will meet people to teach them what they do not know. You will see the picture unfold itself with time, just have Faith.

-Austin McClain Baker

Austin Baker 
Instagram: @ABaker___  @DoYouInspiration
DreamsDriveDetermination@gmail.com

Austin.Baker25@yahoo.com

My Advice to a High School Senior

My Advice to a Rising Senior

            When it comes to advice, our elders are the ones who provide us with the knowledge we need to become successful in this competitive world. Each day we are faced with challenges and obstacles that we must overcome. The difference between those who are achievers and those who are not is that the ones who are successful have the mindset of working hard until they accomplish their goals. With that, my advice for rising seniors is to keep their focus on succeeding and maintaining high grades.

            When a student enters their senior year of high school, the first thought is that they are on top of the world. However, a high ego can and will lead to your downfall. After surviving junior year and the Graduation Project, the majority of students believe they have endured the most challenging parts of high school. They are wrong. First semester of senior year is the more important than junior year alone. The reason is that colleges take mid-year grades into importance when considering an applicant for admission. If you are borderline average for the school of your choosing, you will greatly benefit from earning a few extra A’s to boost your GPA. Secondly, if a college notices that your grades have fallen, they will suspect that you have ‘checked-out’ of school and that you have begun to slack off. Thirdly, when applying to colleges, ask for letters of recommendation early, research your colleges early, and join a club or two to add to your resume.

            The most important advice I have to offer for rising seniors is to not try to be the movie image of a senior because you will get into trouble and it is not worth the several years of hard work to lose it all over a careless mistake. When a student reaches their senior year, he or she will begin to think they are capable of doing anything. Students feel freedom to try new things and party to the degree which is observed in movies. If you choose to attend parties and social gatherings, understand the consequences of being involved in activities that are not appropriate or legal for the age of a minor. One night, one poor decision, or one mistake can ruin an entire schooling career. However, remember to enjoy your senior year because it is the concluding moments of your childhood until you move on to a new phase of your life. There is so much to live for and love in high school. Do not try to be someone you are not. Do not let drama affect your senior year because it is not worth fretting over. Senior year is a time to have fun and cherish. Additionally, spend time with your closest friends because within a year after your senior year, you will no longer see 99% of your friends. In the end, achieve as much as possible for you to feel accomplished when you walk across the stage in June.

 

-Austin McClain Baker




Austin Baker

Twitter: @ABakerPresident

Email: DreamsDriveDetermination@gmail.com