10 Years Behind Me, 10 Years Ahead: Lessons from a Decade of Growth

Reflections on passion, resilience, and staying true to yourself over a decade of growth—and the lessons to carry forward into the next.

This article was originally published in 2013, and has been republished in 2025.

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of speaking at my high school’s alumni career day. It’s an event I always enjoy because it offers a rare opportunity to reflect on who I was back then and how far I’ve come since. It’s like hitting pause on the daily grind to take stock of the journey.

Interestingly, I was the youngest alum in attendance. I left high school in 2002—technically a year ahead of schedule, though that’s a story for another day. That means it’s been 10 years since my high school days, and standing there among alumni from the early '90s and before, I realized something profound: the distance between me and those students I was addressing is the same as the gap between me and those older alumni. It was a humbling moment to think about what the next decade might hold for me. Here are some lessons I’ve learned so far that I hope will resonate with anyone navigating their own path forward.

Live with Passion

Or perhaps more accurately, bring passion into what you do. Passion is a powerful driver—far more potent than monetary gain alone. When you look at truly successful people, there’s one common thread: they are fueled by a deep passion for their work. It’s not that they became passionate after achieving success; they achieved success because they were passionate.

I get it—life doesn’t always make it easy to live passionately. Sometimes circumstances push us into survival mode, leaving little room for inspiration or joy. But even in tough times, passion can be your anchor. It gives you a reason to get up in the morning, to keep striving when things feel bleak.

For me, passion has been the compass guiding my decisions, even when the path wasn’t clear. Whether it’s diving headfirst into a new project or mentoring others, finding that spark has made all the difference.

Master the Art of Selling

Growing up, I was shy—painfully so. Even now, putting my ideas out there can feel daunting (hence this blog). For years, I avoided anything remotely related to sales because it felt uncomfortable. But here’s what I’ve learned: selling is everything. Whether you realize it or not, you’re always selling—your ideas, your skills, your unique perspective on the world.

And let’s be honest: selling yourself can be intimidating. Public speaking alone is one of humanity's greatest fears—studies show people fear it more than death! But here’s the thing: selling isn’t about being pushy or manipulative; it’s about connecting with others and communicating your value authentically.

If there’s one skill everyone should invest in, it’s learning how to sell and speak confidently. For me, teaching and public speaking have become passions in their own right—a far cry from where I started. It didn’t happen overnight; it took practice and deliberate effort. But now? There’s nothing quite like standing in front of an audience and sharing something meaningful.

Choose Happiness Every Day

This one is deceptively simple but incredibly hard: be happy. It sounds cliché, but happiness isn’t something that just happens—it’s a choice you make every single day. Life throws curveballs at all of us: bad relationships, tough decisions, career setbacks, personal losses. The key is learning how to find joy despite those challenges.

For me, happiness has been about embracing gratitude and letting go of comparisons. It’s easy to look at someone else’s highlight reel and feel like you’re falling short. But remember: what you see on the outside is rarely the full story. Everyone struggles; everyone has doubts.

Happiness doesn’t mean ignoring life’s difficulties—it means finding moments of light even when things feel dark. And yes, some days are harder than others. But those small moments of joy? They’re worth fighting for.

Stay True to Yourself

At the end of the day, there’s only one person you have to answer to: yourself. If you compromise your values or stray too far from what truly matters to you, it catches up with you—usually in the form of stress or dissatisfaction.

For me, staying true to myself means working with people I respect and doing work that aligns with my values. It also means taking time to step back and regain perspective when life feels overwhelming. One thing that helps? Watching videos or reading stories that remind me just how vast and full of opportunity this world really is.

When we lift our heads out of our immediate circumstances, we start to see life for what it truly is: an incredible canvas filled with billions of ways to shine. But here’s the catch—you have to turn on your own light. As I stood there at career day reflecting on these lessons, I couldn’t help but feel excited about what lies ahead—not just for me but for those students looking toward their own futures. If there’s one takeaway from my decade-long journey so far, it’s this: life isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about staying curious, staying passionate, and staying true to yourself as you search for them.

Attitude is everything

My mother, every day..