Dear Editor,
Fifteen years ago, right out of high school, I attended (kind of) college. I took classes that seemed interesting, with no real direction or intent. I played a lot of basketball and ping-pong, went to the lake instead of class, and rarely studied.
After two years of decidedly unimpressive results, I quit and went to work. Two years ago I enrolled at ETSU. This time around, my grades consistently have me on the Dean’s List, I am a participant in the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program, I am president of an academic club, and I have a good job on campus.
I plan to attend graduate school and I have been offered a graduate assistant position upon starting graduate school. What is different? Am I smarter than I was? I don’t think so. Have I developed some grand charisma that has opened doors for me? I know that is not it.
So what is the source of this transformation? It’s mostly effort, plain and simple. I’m trying this time. I regale you with this tale so you might get it right the first time. College is important, and how resolute and diligent you are while here can determine the course of your life. I still play basketball, and I still go to the lake sometimes; it is not a complete trade-off. But now, I am creating a future. You can too. It’s up to you.
– Mark Estes

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