James is the 4th most common male baby name in the United States (Social Security Database), meaning I am a member of a huge crowd of people also named James. I also happen to be a part of a similar crowd of Korean people that share my last name, Kim. In fact, there are countless other crowds that I fit into as a middle-class, American male student. From this lens, nothing empirically separates me from the average Joe, or should I say James. 

As the years go by, however, what will set me apart from those crowds are the exogenous traits that I elect to make my own. For example, I grab life by the balls. I often find that as fire refines steel, challenge builds character. Nothing kills as silently and effortlessly as comfort; for me, discomfort frequently leads to the discovery of progress and fulfillment. So I walk this earth carrying a conviction to make something of myself in spite of my countless conformities, including my name.

James is a name that has many, many derivative nicknames for people to choose, Jamie, Jim, Jimmy, Jimbo, Jimothy, Jameson; the list goes on and on (Bradley). In the same way, my life is open to the many paths that I am able to choose. In the face of adversity, I can choose to give up, or I can choose to persist. In the face of opportunity, I can choose to make excuses, or I can choose to rise to the occasion. In most circumstances, as a privileged student living in the most affluent country in the history of the world, the only thing holding me back is myself. It’s my responsibility alone to make sure that I do not squander the time and resources I have now. Whether it is hitting personal records in the gym, diligently attending to my studies, or just refusing to hit the snooze button in the morning: I do everything I can to set myself apart. 

I truly believe that every single person walking on planet Earth has a responsibility to do the same. I don't care who you are, take the cards you're given and choose to pursue life to the absolute fullest. Do not let your life pass you by, find your purpose and chase it. I believe everyone walking the earth – especially in America – is called to make the world a better place in their own personal way: to help, to lead, and to win. 

Works Cited

“Popular Baby Names.” United States Social Security Database, www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/. Accessed 18 Sept. 2023.

Bradley, Sarah. “What Does the Name James Mean?” Verywell Family, Verywell Family, 8 Mar. 2023, www.verywellfamily.com/james-name-meaning-origin-popularity-5186145. Accessed Sept. 18 2023