Be Great "Anyway"

Like most of the people accompanying me on this trip, I first heard about Garrett Gravesen through my association with H.E.R.O. for Children on the campus of the University of Georgia. H.E.R.O is a non-profit organization that raises money to support children affected by HIV/AIDS in Georgia. This year, for the third straight time, H.E.R.O. was named UGA's organization of the year. H.E.R.O., along with Garrett's other brainchild, the Global L.E.A.D. Program, is a true example of how individuals with the right combination of passion, inspiration, leadership ability, and courage can take hopes and dreams and turn them into realities. 

As I've gotten to know Garrett during my time here in South Africa, it's easy to see how he has accomplished so much at such a young age. His drive is unparalleled, and the love he has for people, travel, and world culture rubs off on you the moment you meet him. A gifted communicator, he has what some may call charisma. I would choose to coin it a "prestige awareness." His ability to relate to people from all walks of life and make them feel at ease with themselves and their surroundings is special. It's no wonder Garrett was named one of the "10 Outstanding Young People of the World." 

On Thursday, Garrett talked to us about the importance of realizing the distinction between being great at something, and truly being great. He told us the story of a trip he took to Harvard University during his freshman year of college to visit his girlfriend who attended there. Finding himself talking to her and some of her classmates, he asked them what it took to get into such a prestigious university. The answers included responses such as, "I got a perfect score on the SAT," and "I'm a recipient of the Westinghouse Scholarship." When the group was finished and the attention was on Garrett to hear about his outstanding accomplishments, he said that for the first time in his life, he was speechless. Humbled and motivated to never be in that position again, he used that experience as a "chip on his shoulder" to be the best person he could possibly be from that moment forward. 

Garrett discussed how greatness is a choice we make everyday. It can be as easy as simply getting involved in the lives of others. We can all be great by being involved, but it is up to us to go out in our daily lives and discover what makes each one of us uniquely "great." 

Garrett left us with the famous poem "Anyway" by the beloved late Mother Teresa. It reads as follows:

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; 

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world your best and it may never be enough;

Give the world your best anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

This is one of my favorite poems, and it is one that I believe we should all strive to live by. Garrett could not have chosen a more appropriate occasion to put these faithful and challenging words into context. 

Garrett knows what it takes to be great; he's lived it. His story should inspire us all to be great. We all have greatness inside of us; it is simply up to us to get involved and use our God given talents and abilities to spread His love throughout the world. If you think you can change the world, you will. If you get involved in the life of another, you can change their world. If you know you are great, great things will happen to you and those around you. I choose to be great. 

I hope you will too.