Why am I motivated?

     As a student, I always found myself striving to outperform the other students in my class whether it be in solving a calculus problem or finishing the class reading first. One of the best ways I found to keep myself going in high school and college was to find someone, anyone that I could create an academic competition with. I would find the one person, in my all my classes, that I felt was at the same mental level as myself and would try to outperform them in the material. This meant scoring higher than them on everything which included tests, quizzes, homework assignments, and even just a single problem that we both found to be extra challenging. Then when I failed to beat my rival, I told myself that next time I would try harder so that I would come out on top.
     However even though healthy competition is an excellent way for me to test myself, this form of self motivation is not strong enough to keep my spirits high. If I really had to think about what motivated me, I would have to say it was the fact that I want to make my family and even myself proud. I know I have the potential to be great, but the only way it will be enough is if I can look myself in the mirror 20 years later and say "I did it." Everyday I tell myself that I need to try harder so that I can assure my family that I am on the right path to prestige and success. However there are some days when I start to doubt myself and think that I won't achieve my goal. I push through those thoughts by thinking about my two younger brothers who look up to their eldest and my parents who pay for my college because they have faith in me. These reassurances along with the confidence I have in myself are what keep me treading with barefeet down the rough road to medicine.