One of the Inspire Board Members recently sent an email containing a fantastic quote from Vince Lombardi.
“Gentlemen, we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence.”
The quote drew me back to my college days. I was a late bloomer and didn’t attend college until I was in my 30’s and a single mother. I think both contributed to my more serious approach to education in general.
I’d already begun toying with writing and had recently attended my first two writing conferences – both exceptional experiences.
I fell madly in love with writing. College helped fan the flame since I had so many papers to write. I don’t think my writing brain slept the entire time.
I took English 101 during my second semester. Having kids, I only attended part time. I remember our first assigned essay, our teacher had us write about something from childhood. While others grumbled, I couldn’t wait to jump in. I had a world of topics to draw on, and could finally share the author in me.
When our grades came back, I took my paper with anticipation. 98%. What? Why not 100%? What had I not included that would’ve bumped my grade to perfection?
I approached the teacher after class and asked what was missing. He was flabbergasted. “You got the highest grade in the class.”
I reasoned with him that I must have something I can improve on since I hadn’t received a 100. After a few minutes of back and forth, I left with his insistence to be happy with the grade I received.
I wasn’t. In fact, I worked harder. Every paper was the same, 98. What was I missing? What had I left out? I approached him again after midterms. Same response. So, I gave up worrying about it and just kept writing. I wrote for the love of writing. I wrote for the words inside of me that needed to be written.
I also took Speech and Debate during the same semester, so I had ample opportunities to write to my heart’s content.
Our final exam for English was a hefty, open-book essay that our teacher gave us two full weeks to write. He wanted to see our best efforts. I wrote, edited, and rewrote until I had the best version I could create.
On exam day, when I reported to class, I was the proudest I had ever felt in that class. I confidently handed that essay to our teacher. He grasped it, but didn’t take it from me. He looked in my eyes and smiled. “I’ve never seen someone work so hard in this class.” I thanked him for what he had offered over those sixteen weeks. I learned a lot and it drove me to be a better a writer.
Three weeks after handing it in, I received a large white envelop in the mail addressed from my college. It was curious since wasn’t expecting anything.
I opened the envelop and slid out its contents. My graded essay. Across the top my teacher had written a very large 100% in red, I grinned. He added the words underneath “Congratulations, you finally got your perfect paper.”
My smile disappeared when I realized that after all this time, he never really understood the why behind my asking. I wasn’t chasing perfection for perfections sake. I genuinely thought that if I wasn’t getting a better grade, it meant I needed to learn something I didn’t already know. I had sought learning a new skill – not perfection.
I’ve since come to realize that my English teacher hadn’t withheld that 100 on my earlier essays because of what I lacked, but rather to drive me onward. If I had received a 100% on those first papers I mostly likely wouldn’t have fought so hard to write my final essay. I’ve also come to recognize that without realizing it, I was seeking perfection. Knowing I needed new skills and seeking to find them was a way of chasing perfection. I guess my teacher knew that.
Over the years, I’ve acquired many new skills and valuable writing techniques, but I’m still most grateful for the experience of those first essays – the dipping of my toe into the writing pool. They taught me how to stay focused.
I agree with Vince Lombardi. As writers we should relentlessly chase perfection – never giving up, never turning away. It’s something I still haven’t caught up with. I’ll keep striving to learn more, do my best, and take pride in the calling that God has given me as a writer. I’m hopeful that one day, here on earth, excellence will be my dear friend.
“It is not that I have already obtained … the goal … I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God’s upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua.” – Philippians 3: 12,14 CJB
So true. Jordan Peterson says it this way. “If you dare to do the most difficult thing that you can conceptualize, your life will work out better than it will if you do anything else”.
I like that, Daniel. My Grandpa used to say “Never take the easy road.” I think he would’ve liked Dr. Peterson. Perhaps all those people wth vision boards are onto something important!
This is my second read through anf this time I didn’t rush. Instead I took time to remember my own writing projects in college. I was always focused on the grade and missed the importance of the process. At the age if 65, I understand that the process of writing with all of its demands and frustrations, makes my life richer. I notice things that I’d overlooked before. I experience things in a deeper way. Right now I’m sitting in Cracker Barrel in front of the wood burning fireplace. My breakfast is sitting in front of me growing cold because I’m trying to describe the warmth and beauty of the flames.
Ramona, I love that you mentioned the writing process has demands and frustrations. Boy does it ever! I completely agree with you though, that our lives and our writing are richer for having experienced them. I hope you were able to describe the flames as they felt. Blessings, and thank you for stopping by.
Great article, Dina. Like you, I’d rather strive for progress than perfection. I will never be perfect this side of heaven. But if I can see small steps in the right direction, I feel like I’m growing and am content with that.
Ah, contentment is a glorious gift. Small steps of progress in the right direction always bring contentment to my soul. I hope when looking back, we all can see the path we’ve walked and hear God say “Well done.”
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Thank you, Dina, for a wonderful story that took me back to my own college years as a single mom. While reading your account, I recognized my own hunger for writing as I entered college. I spent endless hours on my required journals that the instructor seldom read and never graded. My hunger grew from there, but I didn’t come nearly as close to perfection as you did, since I got all B’s that first quarter. I am honored to be in your writer’s group and have learned volumes from your knowledge and your well thought through critiques. Thank you! May your journey toward perfection bring many joyful moments along the way!
I’m blushing, Arlene, but also filled with happiness over the journey we share for now. I appreciate you more than you know, and I’m even more glad you’re still filled with that same hunger. Thanks so much for stopping by.
I enjoyed reading this!
Thank you Melissa. It was fun to write. Thanks for stopping by!