I Think Paying Your Dues Is Overrated

Who says I have to slog through years of grunt work, being underpaid and under appreciated, before I get the recognition and opportunities I’ve worked for?

The only thing I owe, mostly to myself, is to honor the commitments I’ve made. To show up consistently and authentically. To follow my curiosity and creativity wherever they lead me. To do work I can be proud of. None of that requires waiting for someone else to acknowledge what I already know I possess.

I remember the first time I had to advocate for myself. I was in fifth grade, and every Thursday, my friends would leave class for a special program they seemed so excited about. I was curious about where they were going and when it would be my turn. I asked them questions about the class, but week after week, I felt left out. Finally, I asked my teacher why I hadn’t been selected to join.

She told me I had good grades but that I could “do a little better.” That joining the program required a test, and I wasn’t ready for it.

I was confused. I had straight A’s. What more did I need to be considered?

Frustrated but certain I belonged with my peers, I asked my mom to write a letter requesting that I be tested. When I finally took the test, it was full of odd questions, and I didn’t pass. But I came so close that they retested me, and this time, I made it. I spent the next two years in the gifted program, following my curiosity and creativity.

Here’s the thing: my friends had been tested the year before I transferred to the school, and there wasn’t another round of testing. If I hadn’t pushed, I wouldn’t have been considered.

Sometimes, even the most well-intentioned teachers, leaders, bosses, and mentors can have their perceptions of your potential clouded by their own measures of “readiness.” And while mentorship is invaluable, you can’t wait for someone else to tell you what you’re ready for.

I’ve carried this lesson into my career. It’s still early days, but this sentiment bubbles up frequently. The path I’m carving out is mine to define.

Shoutout to my fellow gifted kids who’ve always trusted their instincts and fought to be seen.