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Going for the Gold
Submitted by: Danielle D.
Los Angeles, CAMy name is Danielle Dominguez and I am a teen whose life has been dramatically altered by experiencing the power of "The Secret."
The Secret has pushed me to go places that I never imagined and has helped me see a future for myself greater than I would have ever originally thought possible. During my middle school years I was very insecure with who I was and I always felt ashamed that I never got good grades in school. I looked at the people who would always get the best grades and get all these awards at the ceremonies whereas the only time I got up to receive a certificate, it was for my mom.
I never really set high expectations for myself and I always thought “well I’m not smart enough to do that.” I would look at the top students in my class and think “What would my life be like if I was like them?” I saw them going to high school, taking all these advanced classes, and graduating top rank. I never saw that for myself.
I went through the first year of middle school with this mindset until one day I came home to find my dad watching this video that he had bought earlier that day. I automatically thought if this is something my dad likes, then I won’t like it. But later on in the evening when my dad was going out for a nightly jog I saw him putting a rock in his pocket. I found it so strange that I asked him what it was for. He told me that it was his new “gratitude rock” and that I should watch the video he was watching earlier if I wanted to know more.
I watched “The Secret” and afterwards I sat on my bed thinking about what I had seen. I could not believe that I had in fact been attracting all this negativity in my life. My grades, the awards, the insecurities had all come from me. “The Secret” helped me realize that I can have it all but I have to believe that I can, that I deserve it.
After this I created a list of all the things I wanted and I told myself that they are mine. The biggest thing that I wanted was to graduate in the top of my class in middle school and get the highest award of the year that comes with a gold medal.
At the end of my 7th grade year, the first item from my list was checked off. I finally got my first academic award! I still have it framed in my room to this day. I was so happy. I was like, this really works! Through the rest of my 8th grade year I studied and worked harder than I had ever pushed myself before. Whenever I got exasperated and just wanted to quit, I imagined the feeling of euphoria I WOULD get when I got my gold medal.
At the graduation ceremony I was so nervous I couldn’t even eat my dinner. I just sat at the table restlessly waiting for the award ceremony to begin. I will never ever forget that ceremony. The universe not only granted my greatest desire, I got the gold medal which I wear occasionally around the house, but in addition I got 15 awards and a scholarship to help pay for private schooling! I felt like I could do anything. I not only made my parents and teachers proud but I made myself proud.
I am now almost finished with high school and have been accepted into all the advanced courses and am one of the top students in my class. I used to look up to the top students but now I AM one of the top students. I will never ever forget the day I watched “The Secret.” It truly changed my life and I am so grateful for the impact it has had on my life. I know I would not be the person I am today if it wasn’t for “The Secret.”
I’ve created my own vision board for my life after high school and I’m excited to one day be living my dreams! THANK YOU SO MUCH THE SECRET!!!!! You have made me a better person!