Earned with Distinction

I received my certificate of "Feature Film Writing" from UCLA extension! I held it, overflowed by the emotion of reaching something with hard work and persistence. After that emotion tapered off, my husband read the certificate and announced, "earned with distinction!" I read it again, and noticed these small characters at the corner of the diploma.

I remembered these days I sweat over the course, and my determination of excellence sustained me. I don't think I would do any less of a job if I weren't recognized. It's ingrained in me, and I feel uncomfortable to slack off. Granted, not every endeavor has such reward. While I was in engineering and business school, I earned most of B's and C's despite my best effort.

Many years ago, I saw a plaque at a pastor's office that said: "excellence is an attitude.” At the end of day, we are not cheering for our accomplishment, we are cheering for a race well run, a life worthy of living.