I’m more of a sky diving girl, either I am going to jump and soar… or fall straight on my ass. That’s pretty much what I plan to do. I like to think of my family as my extra parachute, but I am not too good at asking for things, so I am not sure how much use I’ll get out of it. I get yelled at all the time, “Arielle, you’re a student! Stop trying to handle everything by yourself.” Yes, easier said than done, but I have learned slowly to let some support in and yes it has made my life much easier.

I started thinking about what I am up against post-graduation:

1. A recession. Yes, this is nothing new. Not many places are hiring.

2. I am passionate about being a writer…in a recession.

3. The idea of moving back home/away from New York makes me go cold.

But in all, the one thing everyone knows about me is that I have the most sickening work ethic and I am so darn stubborn when it comes to sticking to my dreams. I’m not completely in my own world though. I already  have two 9-5 jobs lined up for post graduation while I transition into being an author, filmmaker, and self-supported entrepreneur.

My dad always says though, “Well, Arielle, I won’t say that what you want to accomplish is impossible. There are always 1 or 2 that make it.”

Yea, 1 or 2…that may be true but my mind doesn’t think very much in terms of limitations. And, honestly, everyone’s path to success is different. What may look like absolute reckless craziness to one person, may be a yellow brick road for another.

At the end of the day…in the words of Steve Job, the co-founder of Apple and former CEO of Pixar, “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way i know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

I want them to say when I’m dead and gone, “Whew, she sure knew how to live.”

It’s as simple as that.

Ari

Steve Job’s 2005 commencement address at Stanford University

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc]