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Health and Wellness

What It Really Means to 'Give Your Best'

And Why You Shouldn't Give Anything Less

Sienna Smith

Nov 21, 2016

Holy Family University

4506

What It Really Means to 'Give Your Best'

The Real XC

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” –Steve Prefontaine

I will never allow myself to be someone that gives anything less than her best. Steven Prefontaine says it best, but what does it mean to truly give your best?

For the many things I cannot do in life, there is one thing I can always do: give my very best in everything I do. Giving my best means pushing myself past my limits while doing hill sprints or long runs. Giving my best means long hours of studying to get the grades I want. Giving my best means participating in as many ways as I can, because I know that I can make a difference. Giving my best is doing it all of the time, not only when others are watching or when I get credit for doing so.

Everybody’s best looks different, but you are the one who knows what your best is, and you are the one that truly knows when you’re not giving it. Even if you have an outstanding 3.5 GPA, going to that class you skipped a few times could have given you a 3.6. Studying a little harder for that one exam could’ve given you a 3.7. Participating in class could have given you a 3.8. Turning off the TV a little earlier to rest could have given you a 3.9. Getting extra help with your teacher could have given you a 4.0. And just like that, you are giving your very best. You are suddenly being your best self, doing things you never realized that you could do.

Giving your best is humbling and amazing. It makes you realize what you can do, and that even though it might seem crazy to others, it is possible. Giving your best makes you look at things a little differently. It means being positive when you want to complain, because complaining is not helping you to reach your goals. Giving your best is trying, even if you think you can’t do something, because you might just surprise yourself.

Giving your best is realizing that you used to run half a mile, and now you can run ten. Giving your best is deadlifting 250 lbs when you couldn’t even pick up the barbell when you first started. Giving your best sometimes consists of long, busy days and a few late nights. Giving your best is so worth it.

Your best is whatever it takes. It’s going that extra mile, because it’s never crowded. Whatever your 100% looks like, go out there and give it.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Don't let the thesaurus-inspired vocabularies in our résumés fool you. We're actually just big kids.

University of Dayton

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Well over four feet tall and 100 pounds in weight, many of us "young adults" of the world still consider ourselves children. Big, working, college-attending, beer-drinking children. We may live on our own, know how to cook noodles, and occasionally use a planner, but don't be fooled; the youthful tendencies that reside within us still make their way into our daily lives. From choosing to stay up until 3:00 a.m. playing video games on a school night to going out in 30 degree weather without a coat, we still make decisions that our parents and grandparents would shake their heads at in disappointment. So why are we expected to know exactly how to be a wise, professional, sensible adult? It's not that we're irresponsible (for the most part, anyway). It's that we are young, inexperienced, and still have the sought-after, enthusiastic mentality that we can do and be whatever we want, which has not yet been tarnished by the reality of the world. These are just a few of the unrealistic expectations that society has for young adults.

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What It Really Means to 'Give Your Best'

And Why You Shouldn't Give Anything Less

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Actually, Kylie Jenner, 2018 is the year of realizing things.

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Take Every Opportunity to Get Free Food

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Invest in Vitamins and Supplements

Making Time to Clean is Essential

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Cs get degrees!

1. Me after every class

2. If you really care about your grades

3. When you get a new homework assignment

4. When people ask what you're going to do after college

5. When you see people who don't study and get good grades

6. We're all broke here

7. FREE FOOD IS FREE FOOD!

8. When it seems like everyone in class is smart - EXCEPT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR GROUP PROJECT!!

Other than knowledge and all those important things

How to take stairs.

Caffeine is your friend.

How to study.

Finding free food.

How to take a nap anywhere.

How to appreciate sleep.

How to procrastinate productively.

Surprise: This is not on the syllabus

1. As a freshman, one does get to be called “freshman” by upperclassmen when they walk to parties in a mob of people.

2. Some of the best stories happen after 2 a.m.

3. Upperclassmen live for meal swipes from freshman because they are poor and need free food.

4. People are struggling just as much as you are so you're not alone.

5. You will never take privacy or personal space for granted ever again.

6. You are not the only one who has slept on the community bathroom floor after a night out.

7. Skipping class for Netflix is a valid excuse.

8. It’s totally acceptable to bring a pot of coffee, a sleeping bag and a pillow to the library.

9. Having class with a friend is the best because you can trade off days on who goes to class.

10. When you are a senior, you take the easiest classes to boost your GPA.

11. How to pull an all-nighter.

12. How to handle drunk people.

13. The drunk you does not look out for sober you about 90 percent of the time.

14. How to deal with a hangover.

15. How to interact with people very different from you.

16. The perfect amount to procrastinate on every assignment.

17. How to pass a class without paying for the textbook that was "required."

18. How to calculate your grades to see what you need on every test in order to maintain a passing grade.

19. How to hook-up with someone without getting emotions involved (but we all know that doesn’t happen).

20. How to handle your roommate when you want to strangle them.

21. That you miss your parent’s every day.

22. How to get into a bar when you aren’t 21.

23. How to BS on assignments, out loud and on your resume.

24. That theme parties are the greatest.

25. How to find free events that have free food.

26. That when there are puppies on campus it will be the greatest day of your life.

27. Alarms are necessary and you must set like seven of them in order to wake up in time for class.

28. Greek parties are exactly how they are in movies.

29. Care packages are treated like Christmas presents.

30. The friends you meet in college will become your bridesmaids and groomsmen.

31. That printers only break when you need them the most.

32. Cereal, ramen noodles, Easy Mac and microwavable pancakes can be used for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

33. That classes before 8 a.m. should be illegal.

34. Changing your major is OK.

Don't let the thesaurus-inspired vocabularies in our résumés fool you. We're actually just big kids.

"You should know exactly what career is right for your future by the time you're 18."

"Save all your money."

"Get plenty of sleep and adjust to a regular sleep schedule."

"Make sure to eat healthy, balanced meals. Don't forget those fruits and vegetables."

"Surround yourself with good, moral people."

"Don't do anything stupid."

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