My Greatest Fear

A very wise person recently said to me, "you're either going to have to lower your expectations or find someone who rises to them." Though this was a completely open and honest idea, I found the first option of the two to be ridiculous.

Having high expectations is constantly seen as a fault in people and can often be the source of a lot of disappointment and heartbreak. I constantly see people trying to settle for something less than they dreamed of, less than they truly crave late at night when they're being honest with themselves. To me, this is my ultimate, greatest fear.

As we mature and age, we are constantly told to be realistic about our future and the life we see ahead of ourselves. As a child, you wanted to be an astronaut more than anything in the world but upon entering college you decided you needed to start being real with yourself and give up the pursuit of your dreams so you could get a real job working at a desk 9-5 everyday. As a young teenager you imagined your college years surrounded by friends that would drop anything to help and listen to you and love you even at your worst moment but as you began to meet more and more people you dropped this idea and settled for friends who you could simply have a good time going out with.

Our younger selves would be devastated at how far we were from our dreams, much less how little we tried to get there. Our younger selves would be embarrassed of our lack of courage and drive. Personally, I am not trying to upset Young Morgan because she was quite feisty.

I am 21 years old and I am just beginning to make the decisions that will shape the entirety of my life. I'm beginning to decide what kind of career I want to pursue and who I choose to surround myself with in years to come and I am not ready to settle for anything less than extraordinary, simply because I still have the freedom and opportunity to do so.

My internship this summer was probably the best learning experience I've had the opportunity to have. Not only did I learn so incredibly much about the digital advertising industry, but I truly learned about myself and how my strengths and characteristics go into play while looking for the right career. I learned something that is not often taught at school or the workplace: where you choose to work is your choice as well as the company's. It's empowering to realize that I do not have to settle at a company and praise them simply because they employ me. I should enjoy what I do and work for someone who utilizes me in a way that is mutually beneficial. It does not have to be utter dread every time you wake up in the morning and head to work and, in fact, it should not be. If you love what you do, you will excel at it and this is your gain as well as your place of employment's. Do not settle for wasting 40 hours a week of your life on something that does not make you happy.

This can also be said about the people you are surrounded with. People will tell you that you are wrong or that you expect too much. These are the people who are not meant to be in your life. Surround yourself with those who think you are exquisite and deserving of only the best in life. It's okay to step away from someone who only likes you in moderation. You do not have to continuously get hurt and forgive people in hopes that they will appreciate your forgiveness. For every person that finds you somewhat great, there is a person who thinks you are unlike anyone they have ever met.

Recruitment started this weekend and how much I love my friends slapped me right in the face. Talking about my friends in DG made me realize how valuable people that really truly would drop anything for you are. Find friends that will rub your back at 1 am even though we just had the longest day of our lives. Find friends that will send you flowers because you were crying too hard to talk. Find friends that will talk your ear off long enough to distract you from something eating away at you. These people do exist and you have to seek them out. You cannot settle for people you only have a good time with after a few drinks on a Saturday night.

Mediocrity is my biggest fear. I don't want to just be happy, I want to be elated. I have an image of a really great life ahead of me and now is the time I have to cut out what will not get me to this image. There are people out there who will rise to your expectations and I'm going to continue to believe this.