Accomplishment

I don't know what made me write this... but i think it's... good? Haha.

What is accomplishment? Is it not the feeling of triumph you get when you mastered the art of walking on your two feet? Isn’t it the feeling of well-being you get when you have won something you have been yearning and persevering for? Is it not the word that defines the feeling of being able to do the impossible?

I consider learning as an accomplishment. All humans have the capability to learn no matter what condition or state of mind they are in. God gave us this ability which places us in a much higher position than animals. He gave us intellect, freewill and reasoning, gifts that only humans have. I have never seen a cat stop and think if he should eat the rat or not. Neither have I seen a dog grab a magnifying glass and inspect his fur, wondering why it’s so itchy.

They say that learning begins the very second you come out from the confines of your mother’s womb, your first peek into the world. At first glance, I learned that there are other things far more interesting to look at than the umbilical cord connecting me and my mother together for nine months. I learned that there are such things called good and bad but still had trouble distinguishing one from the other. I discovered new ways how to make use of my feet instead of kicking my father’s face. I noticed that there are furry people walking about on both hands and feet.

At that stage, I was learning even without the help of my parents explaining to me the functions of this part and that, telling me what that furry human is called and what color is orange when I know it’s a fruit. Time passes by and I acquire so many things that seem to cram up the ample amount of space I have in my neural attic. I learned how to draw; I learned how to read and write, what my name was and how to play the violin. I gathered newfound information about the world which I didn’t know of within the boundaries of my home and the security my parents provided me. I understood the complexities of the human anatomy and developed a fondness for the field of science.

The usual words I used in my essays started sounding more complicated and have gotten longer. My usual “large” became “humongous” and the typical “surprised” became “flabbergasted”. I learned that there are different shades of red, pink, blue, green, yellow, violet and orange which before I knew are just plain red, pink, blue, green, yellow, violet and orange. It has escaped me that there are such colors as purple and lemony yellow.

I read books far more interesting than what happened to Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The themes were much more intense than papa bear’s bowl of porridge.

I noticed that one word has over fifteen different meanings and that I should be cautious on how I should use them. I felt unfamiliar emotions that just stir up and break out into the open.

I found new ways on how to learn new things easier, by making graphs and abbreviations to help me understand further the topic at hand. Learning something new is an achievement, understanding it is something more. It is also an innate skill bestowed upon us by God. He gave us reasoning, intellect and freewill. Reasoning is testing what we have learned. We learn so that we may be able to decide the best path to take and to analyze what our mistakes were. I also consider this a skill since I get to nurture it and expand it as time flies by.
I was taught many things that I’m afraid I would have to empty some space in my attic again. I acquired all these in a short amount of time and I don’t know what yet is in store for me.

Learning is an achievement. Getting onto this stage is not easy because along the way, I am tested in every aspect. I quote: “Only mashed grapes produce the best wine.” These challenges describe me as someone who wills herself to try her best in all fields and tests and is ready to learn anything. I pushed myself to the hilt. Striving, going beyond my boundaries. These extremities enabled me to get a position on the honor’s list since the first grade. It placed me in the Honor’s class in my sophomore year. It helped me win extracurricular activities that tested my skills in literature, sports and art.

But for me, accomplishments don’t necessarily come in the forms of embossed certificates or medallions sprayed with golden paint. They might just be the things one has achieved but have not noticed. It might just be a talent imprinted on your genetics which you don’t know about unless you stumble upon it by accident.

An accomplishment could be a skill acquired from other people, like playing the violin. And as you enhance that skill it becomes a talent. Developing one’s skill is an achievement, that was what I realized when I played my first violin piece. Is this what achievement feels like? I felt good about myself, knowing full well that I can do anything I set my mind into.

Yet, I still feel like there’s something else missing. And this brings me to the other variety of accomplishment. I consider making friends an achievement. Being somebody else’s friend is an achievement. They say that finding a needle in a hay stack is difficult, what more if you’re looking for the one person that could understand you and withstand all your imperfection and outlooks in life? Making friends is a tremendous feat. Having true friends is a miracle. Each one of us has different personalities that may not coincide with one another; perhaps that’s what makes finding that said person a miracle.

I have a lot of friends. I am a really friendly person. This defines me as a person who never ceases to care and is open to anyone, who perseveres and goal-oriented. There are some triumphs in life that are worth more than the shiny gold medal framed on your book shelf. And these are the things that never rust or tear.

This is my essay that defines me as a person that I am today.