Don’t give up! You can do it! Believe in yourself and the world is yours




Greater than 4 minutes, my friend!

What a wonderful day! The first day off after nearly five years. 🙂 Yes, I just finished my bachelor essay one day before deadline, and will defend it mid December. It was very hard work as I never did something alike before, but the idea to end my double degree and fulfil my dream was what gave me the power and wings to go for it. Juhuu, I did it. 🙂 Five years of joy and sacrifice went by in a hurry. Years I had to study and work full time at the same time. Years where family, friends and colleagues at work were there to help me out when needed so I could study. Years of little physical rest, years of almost nonsocial life… What a fortunate girl I am to have all these wonderful people around me! Those were difficult, absorbing, interesting and funny years. Yes. Difficult because of the countless times I thought I couldn’t make it any more, where I was convinced that to give up was the best option. But I didn’t throw in the towel because I knew everything has its reward. It worth it for sure. By the end of the year I will be graduated in Translation and Interpreting fulfilling the dream I dreamed one day. Isn’t it amazing?

When I was a little girl I dreamed with becoming a nurse to help people overcome. The idea to play with stethoscope and syringes always attracted me even I was scared by the latter as I had made a very bad experience: 40 years ago, there was a character in Spain called ‘practitioner’ (practicante), a nurse (in that times mostly men) with their own office where they received all patients who needed a shot or two. So you first went to the doctor, the physician gave you your prescription and if there were shots as treatment, you had to go to the practicante. For kids, such kind of a ‘shooter’ was the scariest kind of punishment. I remember once, when I needed some antibiotic shots during a week, and the nurse had to tie up my 10 year old body to the strecher and raise the radio at full volume so that nobody could hear me screaming and crying. That was really depressing, but it stopped after some days, when the little girl noticed she was going better. After realising that the procedure was making her feeling healthier, she always was the first who wanted to get her shot done and by now, it only lasts in her memories as a lesson learned.

Another thing I was scared of were big dogs. My mom sent me to buy bread for breakfast at the bakery next corner, usualy Sundays. I hated to do it because there was always a big scary boxer dog lying in the middle of the sidewalk, so I had to walk a wide berth around to not cross the dog. Until one day, I was too attentive to the movements of the dog, didn’t watch the road and a bicycle collided with me. So, what have I learned meanwhile? Simple: if you are fixed in what scares you, you can’t go forward. All kind of things can be scary until you decide to give it a try. There are lots of opportunities that sound awesome but that we think we are not qualified for. Trust that you will figure it out and go for it anyway. Believe in yourself. That’s what happened to me one day, after dreaming to become a translator. The day I focused to do the first step I won the battle.

To improve yourself day by day is incredibly beneficial and refreshing for health and soul. As I drink my first coffee of the day, sitting back and thinking about what I am thankful for this year, I have settled on one thing that seems to have made the difference in my life over and over again. I’m thankful that I believe in myself. This quality is partially who I am and partially a result of the family and friends that have supported me throughout my life, from childhood till today. Regardless of where it comes from, it is the one quality that allows us to not only talk about what we are grateful for, but also to live it out. To know that nothing will work if we don’t believe in it is one of the most important thoughts to bear in mind. There is nothing impossible in life. Trust me. Changes are possible for all of us. If you aren’t happy with what you are or what you do, change it. If you don’t like the job you are doing right now, change it. It is up to us to feel satisfied and happier with a more meaningful job or life. Try new things, it is never too late, no matter the ideas or dreams, the age or circumstances you might have, if you don’t believe in yourself, nothing will work. Think BIG, dream BIGGER! Make it happen! You will know how far you can go, when you pursue your passion and never stop trying (Lailah Gifty Akita). Don’t give up! You can do it! Go ahead! Fly! 🙂

Spanish version here. 🙂

Marie-Claire Cruz Schwarz

About Marie-Claire Cruz Schwarz

Double BA Translator & Interpreter. Linguistic & Intercultural Mediator. Certified Nurse Assistant at surgery theater. Diplomiert in Handel- und Wirtschaft.

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