Looking beyond the milestone to enjoy the moment

I used to think that I was capable of anything.

Flying, becoming the first female president… I used to think that I was capable of anything.

Flying, becoming the first female president of the United States, beating Michael Jackson in a dance-off – you name it, I was willing to take it on and conquer the world.

I can see the same determination in my baby niece, Ellie. Sure, she may be a mere 5 months old, and she may laugh at just about anything you say, but she’s no quitter. She recently learned how to roll over onto her stomach, but then she gets stuck. She doesn’t know how to roll over onto her back again.

Imagine having to learn how to roll over again, or how to grab something that’s out of your reach. It’s tough work, and she has a lot more ahead of her, like learning to eat and to speak, but Ellie never gets frustrated. The entire last week that I stayed at her house, I never once heard her cry – until they drove me back on Sunday night, but that was just because she didn’t want me to leave.

She even laughs when my brother-in-law sings “Du Hast” – that song that was big around 1995 – to her. Right now, nothing stands in her way. Considering she’s my sister’s daughter, she most likely will be carrying a miniature leather briefcase to kindergarten. She can conceivably be anything she wants to be.

So, when does all that change? When do we let self-doubt creep in and narrow our scope of possibility?

Usually it comes in the form of another person. Let’s face it, it just took one certain British judge that was obviously jealous of my incredible singing ability to prevent me from becoming America’s next pop star idol.

Just kidding, but that would have been fun. And I would have won.

But seriously, it just took one kid on my brother’s Little League team to tell him he wasn’t good enough for him to never play baseball again. Well, guess what? Babe Ruth hit 714 homeruns in his career, but according to some graffiti in New York, he struck out 1,330 times. Nobody told the Great Bambino he wasn’t good enough.

You win some, you lose some. The point is that you have to keep trying. Otherwise you’ll never know your true potential.

I hate to get all mushy, gushy and motivational on you, but we all need a little pep talk every now and then. Let me be your personal cheerleader.

Keep in mind, when you’re getting a little gloomy about your future and life after Pitt, that someone has to be the next president of the United States, and now that Britney Spears has stretch marks, we’ll need another unrealistic, Barbie-like pop star to ruin little girls’ self-esteem.

Wherever you are meant to end up, whatever role you are meant to play in this world, you will find it. Keep working hard, keep exploring your options and taking opportunities and you’ll get there.

I’ve even found my own personal calling in life. I’m going to be the first Playboy centerfold of the year with an IQ over 60. Oh, and find the cure for the common cold.

Come on, a girl can dream, can’t she?

Remember, it’s not so much about the destination, but the ride. The all-nighters we pull, the late-night food binges we go on, the laughing until we cry. Life isn’t meant to be just a matter of milestones, but of moments.

You’ll see when Diddy finally makes me a part of his band (the day hell freezes over). I’ll look back on my humble beginnings and reminisce about the simple days at Pitt when drama came in the form of my roommate’s hard drive crashing for the seventh time since freshman year. Oh yeah, it’s happened. She’s basically carrying on a secret love affair with ResNet. Except the last time one of the guys came over to set up her new hard drive, I accidentally caught a dishtowel on fire while I was making spaghetti. I don’t know how soon someone will be willing to come back to our apartment.

Yet again, despite her constant battle with Dell, she never gives up on reaching the day when she finally receives a new computer. So, follow her example and go big or go home.

And if you don’t listen to me, at least take a word of advice from the Babe:

“I swing big, with everything I’ve got. I hit big or I miss big. I like to live as big as I can.”

Jessica’s camera is broken and she needs volunteers to take her audition pictures for Mr. Heffner. To volunteer, e-mail Jessica at jrp32@pitt.edu.