Good enough to begin

The month of January is gone, eleven more months to go. On the calendar, February feels like a satisfying month to look at: neat and symmetrical. That kind of balance doesn’t happen often. Most months in the calendar don’t look so pleasing, but they still pass all the same. In fact, the “perfection” of a calendar month has little to nothing to do with the function of time itself.

This is a good moment for introspection. Following on from the last issue on audacity, it’s worth asking whether the desire for perfection might be holding you back and making you less audacious. Actual perfection is very elusive and mostly unachievable. The quality of your work typically reflects where you are at a particular point in time.

Think of the statement of purpose (SOP) that secured a scholarship, you should have read one. It was well prepared, proofread, and edited, yet it was still submitted with some hesitation because it wasn’t perfect. Today, that same scholar could write a better SOP. At the same time, today’s scholar would face bigger writing challenges. Progress doesn’t remove difficulty; it changes it.

This is not an encouragement of mediocrity. Not at all. It is always important to do your best in every situation. But don’t let the desire for perfection trap you. Don’t become stuck or overly anxious. Your best at a given moment may not be perfect, but it may be good enough to move you forward so you land that opportunity where there will be room for improvement.

There is a balance between mediocre work and perfect work. Find that middle ground, and be careful not to drift too far in either direction.

Something to do this month:

• Start preping: Find out more information on your opportunity of interest. You can:

  • Read previous award-winning essays

  • Watch practice job interviews on YouTube

  • Read previous requirements and procedure

We are rooting for you and will be here to support you anyway we can. You can reach our to us via our accounts on social media or drop a comment below.

From Ojonugwa for Scholar ChitChat.