Initiating Success 启动成功

By Beth McKenzie

Here at Interface, I have the privileged position of working with a multitude of students on both their personal statements and preparing for admission and alumni interviews. Both of these portions of the application process require a student to articulate what makes them unique, and to assert what will make them a successful student on a college campus and then in their subsequent professional life. When speaking with Interface students, a few common words arise as they describe what makes them successful. However, today I’d like to argue that there is one underlying factor that ties them all together. One key element of success.

在顾瑞，我有幸与众多学生一起梳理他们的个人陈述、准备大学申请和校友面试。申请过程中的这个两个部分都需要学生阐明是什么使他们与众不同，并彰显是什么会让他们在大学校园以及随后的职业生涯中成为成功的学生。当与顾瑞的学生交谈时，他们在描述是什么使自己获得成功时，几个共同的词汇会出现。然而，今天我想说的是，有一个把它们联系在一起的基本因素。一个取得成功的关键因素。

One of the most common words Interface students use to describe what makes them a successful scholar and attractive college applicant is curiosity. This hunger for knowledge drives them ask questions, discover new things, and solve problems. Curiosity leads these students to take an interest in other people, in the world around them and their place in it.

顾瑞学生用来描述是什么使自己成为一个成功的学者、或是有吸引力的大学申请者时，最常用词汇之一就是好奇心。这种对知识的渴望促使他们提出问题，发现新事物，并解决问题。 好奇心使这些同学对其他人产生兴趣，对他们周围的世界和自己在其中的位置产生兴趣。

Another frequently cited characteristic of academic success among Interface students is perseverance. This persistence to stick with difficult problems and tasks helps them endure through struggles and achieve results that take grit and focus. These students recognize that tenacity and dedication have been key elements when they have pursued research, learned new languages, studied musical instruments, or become experts in their personal hobbies.

另一个经常被引用的、顾瑞学生学业成功的特点是，坚持不懈。这种对困难问题和任务的坚持帮助他们历经各种挣扎，并且获得需要勇气和专注才能取得的成就。这些学生认识到，在他们进行研究，学习新语言，学习乐器或在个人爱好方面变成专家的过程中，坚韧和专心致志是关键因素。

A third, very common characteristic that Interface students see in themselves is creativity. The world moves forward with innovation, and this requires new, creative approaches to imagine different, exciting solutions. The special blend of experiences, interests, talents, and knowledge combines to form a creativity that is truly unique to an individual. Therefore, many Interface students believe that what will enable them to enact change and make history is their individual creative view on the world, and the inventive visionary actions this creativity engenders.

顾瑞学生在自己身上看到的、第三个非常普遍的特点是，创造力。世界因着创新而前进，这需要新的、创造性的方法去设想不同的、令人兴奋的解决方法。经历、兴趣、才能和知识的特殊融合形成了每个人真正独特的创造力。因此，许多顾瑞的学生相信，使他们能够改变并创造历史的是他们每个人创造性的世界观，和这种创造力所产生的独出心裁的前瞻性行动。

All of these, and indeed many other attributes, have a clear connection with academic and professional success. However, what ties them all together? What is the underlying connection between successful individuals whose curiosity, dedication, or creativity propel them forward?

所有这些，以及许多其他特点，都与学业和职业的成功有明确的联系。然而， 把它们联系在一起的是什么？推动这些成功人士前行的好奇心、专心致志、创造力之间的基本联系是什么？

Initiative. Initiative is the ability to use your judgement to make decisions and take action without needing to be told what to do. The reason I believe this is the most important key to success is that initiative is self-inspired and self-dependent. A person who takes initiative is in the driver’s seat of their own life. They determine where they want to go and how fast they will get there. Perhaps their curiosity inspires their destination. However, without initiative, their curiosity will not take them any closer to their target. A person’s creativity can supply them with inventive ideas for how to approach the journey, but without initiative they will remain idle. Likewise, initiative is crucial for perseverance. If you have a long journey ahead of you, you will need to take initiative for each small step towards your goal. Perseverance is, in fact, renewed initiative that eventually takes you the extra mile.

主动性。主动性是一种不需要别人告诉你该做什么、就能用你的判断力做出决定并采取行的能力。我之所以认为这是成功的最重要的因素，是因为主动性是自发的、自主的。一个积极主动的人是自己人生的主宰。他们决定自己前进的目的地和速度。也许他们的好奇心开启了他们的目的地。然而，如果没有主动性，他们的好奇心也不会带他们接近目标。 一个人的创造力可以为他们如何踏上这段旅程提供创意，但是如果没有主动性，他们仍旧一事无成。同样，主动性对于坚持也很关键。如果你前面还有很长的路要走，你需要主动地朝你的目标迈出一小步。实际上， 坚持不懈就是重新振作的主动性，最终让你更加努力。

Initiative is crucial to academic and professional success. Other people can provide ideas and recommendations, but a student must take initiative to make those opportunities a reality. People can teach you about any subject in the world, but only through your own initiative will you take responsibility for your own learning, seeking out the resources to expand and refine your understanding. Other people can sign you up for a test, but unless you have the initiative to study and prepare you will not succeed to your maximum potential.

主动性是学业和职业成功的关键。其他人可以提供想法或建议，但是学生必须积极主动，把那些机会变成现实。人们可以教你世界上的任何学科，但是只有通过你自己的主动性，你才能为自己的学习负责，寻找资源来拓展并完善你的理解。别人可以帮你报名参加考试， 但是除非你自己主动学习备考，否则你无法成功地发挥出最大潜力。

What can you take initiative for today? What bad habit can you take a step to rectify? What out-of-reach opportunity can you take a small step towards? What is something that confuses you about the world that you can take initiative for learning about? What is a problem you see that you can take action to help solve? What do you want for your future? Hop into the driver’s seat and take initiative.

今天你能主动做什么？你可以采取措施改正哪些坏习惯？你能够朝着哪些遥不可及的机会迈出一小步？让你对世界感到困惑的、你可以主动去了解的是哪些事情? 你可以采取行动帮助解决你看到的哪个问题呢？ 你想要什么样的未来？ 跳上驾驶座，积极主动。