You make it sound so easy

My younger cousin inspired me to write this because I asked him where he was going to college and he said "San Jose State" I asked him what his gpa was and when he told me a "3.0 even" I said what? with a gpa like that you can apply to Columbia. Now I regret telling him that because I got rejected from that school my two homegirls got accepted and offered no money. So screw it. Next time I see him I"m going to suggest Harvard or Brown. Anyway, my cousin really wants to play soccer which is why "San Jose State" looks promising to him. And I think its a guaranteed acceptance for him. But as I probe, oh and I do probe, I found out that he doesn't think he'll get accepted to any other schools. If I know anything about this kid, I know that he's a brilliant fellow. My follow up question is my beloved question: what is your passion? "I like to write," he says. He also tells me he loves philosophy. Cool, I think, he's a soccer player who can write and wants to be a philosopher. I assume there are few of these in the world. So I ask him why he's not reaching his full potential. I begin to lecture him, grill him actually. Have you thought about an intership, do you have video clips of your soccer techniques, have you picked your top ten schools? His answer was no to all my questions. Ain't that something? I thought. This here is a kid that has it all lined up, two supportive parents, a network of close friends, a sport that he's played since the age of six, and not only that but he's a writer and a philosopher at that! Why on earth would he want settle for limiting his options. I leave perplexed. But I also leave him three homework assignments, he is to sign up with the writing center 826 Valencia. He is to send me video clips of his soccer drills and he is to pick is top ten colleges including San Jose State. He puts his head down and laughs. I say "what?" and he tells me "You make it sound so easy" and I think to myself again, well aint' that something. I tell him even if it sounds easy understand that nothing is ever handed to us, nothing is ever easy, and so I love that he brought up that point because next time when I meet a high school junior I will preface my admonitions with its never easy, it never will be easy. But as long as you're acheiveing your potential and the excellence you were put here on this earth to reach, you're doing your job. so thanks RVA for reminding me that the sky is the limit, hard work is the ingredient.