Season 11 of The Voice had Billy Gilman, the former child country starlet, as the front-runner. However, Sundance Head, who was formerly a semi-finalist on season 6 of American Idol, went on to win The Voice.

I remember both of their past endeavors. I knew Gilman as Demi Lovato’s celebrity crush, but, like most casual fans, I also assumed that he couldn’t sing well after his voice changed. Gilman’s debut album is still in my room, and I was rooting for Head during his time on AI. They both turned out to be so talented and passionate.

Why does this matter to us?

As a college student who’s finishing up my first semester, I definitely had moments where I struggled but was determined to do well. You might have had a semester filled with triumphs, and discouragement.

It’s vital to remember the importance of perseverance. It would have seemed easy for them to put music aside. After all, Gilman was only a child when he started and could grow up as a “normal” adult. If Gilman gave up after he peaked on Billboard country charts, he would not be doing what he loves today. Likewise, Head was only getting older in an industry that favors youth. If Head also stopped after being voted off of another singing show, he would not have the recoding contract he now has today.

Either way, both gained exposure and the opportunity to live out some of their dreams with The Voice.

With finals and the semester closing, it is possible to realize that some things didn’t work out the way we hoped. This could be about grades, or something bigger like what we want to do with our lives. I think that when we’re discouraged, it’s important to remember our purpose and continue to preserver.

Gilman and Head found their purpose in music and were both able to share their success stories after years of pursing their craft.

Since we can’t fast-forward to see how things work out, it’s worth having endurance. You have a story worth sharing and dreams worth pursing.