Rise: My first year at Stanford University

One of the most noticeable differences I have discerned between the other kids at my high school and myself was the disparity between the goals we pursued and the effort we put into our goals. There are only two people in the world I can attribute my work ethic I wake up with every day to: my mum and my dad. From a very young age, I was lucky enough to have incredibly supportive parents who got me hooked onto the game of golf and never failed to lend a helping hand whenever the textbooks got too heavy throughout my academic career. It is without a doubt that my mum and dad are definitely one of the biggest inspirations in my life. When I was younger, I slept in one morning instead of going to practice, and my dad told me something that I will never forget. "Freddie, if you're feeling tired and want to sleep in that's fine. But if you truly want to do something exceptional, then you can't back down. You need to get up and rise to the occasion.". I've carried those words around with me ever since and anytime that I've felt like pressing the snooze button on my phone or stay at home when it gets hot enough to cook an egg on the concrete outside, I remind myself of what my dad said and do my best to rise to the occasion. 

I had heard a myriad of stories before coming to Stanford and to say I was excited to start college was a vast understatement. You can imagine how motivated an aspiring amateur golfer can get, when they are headed to the very same university that Tiger Woods had gone to. Even when I said goodbye to my parents and boarded the airplane, I still couldn't fathom that I was going to become a Stanford Cardinal. I started dreaming about all the tournaments I would win, all the majors I could pursue, and the friends that I would make. However, after a few quarters here at Stanford I realized that my daydreams were a little ambitious. Reality had caught up to me, and I realized that college life wasn't going to be as simple as I thought. Even though I had settled into my new living complex, gotten used to the fifteen-hour time difference, and ingrained a map of campus into my memory, the relentless speed at which the quarters can go kept catching me off guard. One of the things I found tough was balancing my schedule here at Stanford. It was quite common for us to fly across the country while having a computer science assignment to do. However, the scary thing for me was having to accept the fact that it doesn't get any easier. New material will always be covered in classes you miss, p-sets get harder as the quarter goes on, and you still have to show up to the gym even if you have a midterm in the following hour. It really isn't easy, I've fallen behind many times over the last few quarters, and I'd be lying if I didn't say that I haven't thought about handing in a sub-par assignment or sleeping in on the weekend instead of practicing, but those words my dad said to me still come to mind. Rise. 

It was a lot harder at first to push myself since I didn't have my mom and dad right behind me. But despite this, I do believe that it is essential to mention how well Stanford prepares you for the real world. This is where one of the most significant benefits of Stanford is highlighted: its plethora of support systems in place for the wellbeing of all students. Aside from the endless amount of tutoring we have access to, the vast variety of trainers for athletes, and some of if not the best practice facilities (for all sports) in the world at our disposal, one of the most important support systems that any student will interact with is the family that you will create here at Stanford. For me, everyone on the golf team became a large part of my new family. It was incredible to see how quickly we all got to know each other and how many memories we made and keep making. I remember the guys showing me around campus during my first week of university. One fond memory I have was learning about the fueling station that athletes have access to here at Stanford. Getting a free protein shake- that tastes absolutely amazing- as well as plenty of other delicious and healthy foods, is something I still look forward too. I remember the seniors laughing at the front of the van as all the freshman would scream out the words to 'Mo Bamba' on the way to a tournament. I remember the guys cracking hilarious jokes with the coaches on the driving range and thinking to myself, "this is where I belong."  Thus, it was in my new-found family where I gained the strength to keep pushing forward whenever times got rough. I found that my teammates and coaches would always be there willing to lend a helping hand, and no matter what happened, they would always want the absolute best for me. From going out of their way in the mornings by giving me lifts to workout, taking me out for brunch right before practice, helping me with classes and scheduling events, or even just merely giving me tips for my putting, my team is always there to help me be my very best. The freedom I have and the new responsibilities that I must handle are smaller facets of a larger journey where I believe I can truly discover myself and make a difference in this world. Although my teammates still have trouble understanding  my accent half the time,  deal with the fact that I am notorious for stealing their ball markers, and eat with the hunger of  ten adult men, they never miss an opportunity to be there with me in my highs or give me the tough love I need to pull me up from my lows. With the amazing support from my friends, coaches, and teammates that I have here at Stanford, the struggles I have and will face certainly become a lot less daunting. So, whenever I facetime my mum and dad I can happily say, I’m having so much fun at university and I’m rising to any, and every occasion. 

Go Card.

Fred Lee