Senior Reflection: Lauren Pedersen

By: Lauren Pedersen

“What defines success?” Walking into my interview for admission to the Gatton Academy, this was the last question I had expected. The many mock interviews I had performed weeks ahead where I recited my biggest failure or perhaps where I saw myself in 10 years now seemed fruitless. My mind started racing, trying to produce a clear-cut response. Upon visiting Gatton’s website, one would find quantifiable values that prove how “successful” Academy students are. We like to focus on the numbers: the 100% college matriculation rate, the 60+ credit hours received over two years, and the average ACT ranging from 30-32 throughout recent years. This got me thinking—was our success truly defined by the numbers that describe us? If so, my test scores, GPA, and awards received must have truly blended in with all of the other candidates. However, I did not want to be defined by such numbers, so I ended up replying that success cannot truly be defined because it varies from person to person.

Despite my ambiguous definition of such a simple word, the Gatton Academy accepted me both literally and figuratively. They accepted my constant aura of stress, my habit of buying meal plans worth of food that I obviously could not eat, and my inclination to go to bed at 11:00 every night. Through this acceptance, I learned more about success than I could have ever imagined. Success can’t be defined by “being” something but rather by “doing.” While we see this transition from beginning to end, we still like to focus on the result – the end statistic.

Sitting at my home in southeastern Kentucky, I have never been more homesick in my life—I’m homesick for the hills of WKU (although my calves may not be), endless Harry Potter movie marathons on the fourth floor of Schneider Hall, and kindergarten days complete with a parachute. While I have some regrets on focusing on my end statistic, I could not be more grateful to the Academy for initiating my growth and letting me experience that of my peers. I have watched the girl that was once too shy to order her own food, order 4 (sometimes 5) cookie pizzas a week. The boy who spent his first day at Gatton huddled in his own reclusive corner, ended the year winning every dance battle. A girl that had never traveled abroad before learned that Costa Rica does indeed have gas stations and that not all planes experience turbulent weather conditions. Through these minor changes, Gatton taught me that “success” is not necessarily synonymous with “best.” My advice to my juniors (now seniors) and all other grand-juniors to come is to try not to focus on the end statistic but rather cherish the moments ahead.