My mother got it right!

I grew up with five brothers, so I am acquainted with the nature of competition. My brothers excelled at every sport and set school records, and, like a typical younger brother, I tried to be like them. I tried playing basketball and football. It was not a pretty sight. But there was one sport I excelled in, and that was track and field. I was named the fastest sprinter and won awards.

It was during that time of my life that I learned other kids were breaking the rules in a variety of ways to win—to be the best at any cost. My mother taught me, however, that it was important to discover my talent; even if it meant finding I did not excel in a particular sport, musical instrument, or school subject. Her point was, we cannot be good at everything, and we are better off not cutting corners just to prove a point.

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My mother got it right! Envying the talents of peers can lead to poor decisions that prevent us from discovering our own talents and intellectual gifts. I have heard stories of athletes who pursued esteemed titles at any cost only to be disqualified and lose the title in the end.

As children, many of us were taught that “cheaters never prosper,” and we’ve seen this to be true. Whether we are students, administrators, or scientists, we should never compromise our integrity for fame or notoriety. No amount of recognition is worth that cost. Pursue your dreams and goals with integrity.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. Comments are moderated. Those that promote products or services will not be posted.