The transition from childhood to adulthood marks change in one's life.

When I came into high school, I had three goals in mind: get girls, keep up my kill/death ra tio in Combat Arms, and get good grades, in order of decreasing importance. Whi le I liked to think I was hot stuff, I actually took little risks and loathed mo ving out of my comfort zone. When I first saw the presentation about Future Business Leaders of America at my middle school, I dismissed it as just another thing that would add to my worklo ad. Eventually, though, at the urging of my friends, I reluctantly joined. When I realized what a golden star FBLA could be, I applied to become an intern on th e executive board. My values were evident when I was asked why I wanted to becom e an intern. During my interview, I bluntly replied, "to boost my college resume ". Looking back, that was probably the worst answer I could have given, but by s ome miracle, I was accepted. At the strong urging of my upperclassmen, I attended the Leadership Development Institute, an annual conference with attendees from all over the Bay Area. Upon arrival, I was promptly blown away by the individuals present. I saw leaders, in novators my age that showed competence rivaling industry giants, yet at the same time maintaining a humble, laidback exterior. I saw charismatic high school stu dents who knew more about business than some entrepreneurs. That first year, I d idn't really comprehend how someone could be at that awesome, yet still be my age. I was properly motivated to become better, but I told myself that they were in different world from me. By telling myself that, I built a barrier limiting mys elf to what I thought I could accomplish, rather than what I could accomplish. After LDI, I became more dedicated to FBLA not so much for the value it would ha ve on my college application, but for the experiences and relationships I could gain from being in FBLA. Throughout the next two years, I began to pour more and more effort into the club, to improve myself, and to make connections that woul d last a lifetime. In the summer after junior year, I was able to go to the Nati onal Leadership Conference to receive an award. It was there where I finally beg an to tear that barrier down. If LDI was a rock, Nationals would be a mountain. There, I was forced to attend workshops that took me out of my comfort zone, and I am extremely happy that they did. In one, I was given thirty seconds to make a two minute speech in front of about fifty people. For me, that was harrowing, but one of the workshop presenters said something that really hit home for me. Yo u are what you settle for. It was then that I realized I had settled to be someon e second-rate. I think that was the point for me that marked the transition from childhood to adulthood, the realization that if I want to be better, I can't just settle to be something less. People around me have seen a difference since then. Now, I am th e Vice President of Membership in my local chapter, and I am trying to live up t o the quote that went on to define the rest of my summer. I am constantly trying to end each day as a better Gilbert than the one that got out of bed that morni ng. I will not settle for less when I could be so much more. ________________