RANDOM RAMBLINGS

THE GAUNTLET OF DEVOTION

David Bryngil

Associate Director of Campus Recreation and Health Promotion

In an interview following Will Smith’s now infamous slap at the 2022 Oscars, comedian Jim Carrey used a fascinating phrase.

In commenting on what recently transpired at the Oscars, Carrey said, “A lot of people worked really hard to get to that place and to have their moment in the sun, to get their award for the really hard work they did. It is no mean feat to go through all the stuff you have to go through when you’re nominated for an Oscar. It’s a gauntlet of devotion that you have to do.”

It is when I heard that phrase, “gauntlet of devotion”, I was struck (not physically like Chris Rock!) by the power of those words.

Carrey’s description of the process people labor through to achieve excellence is spot on. Whether you are an artist, athlete, scientist, student, etc., the only way to truly achieve greatness in your field is to pass through a “gauntlet of devotion.”

Success is not easy to achieve. It does not matter if you are a student in a classroom or a professional working in any field. Fundamentally speaking, it takes hard work, unwavering dedication, and passion to rise above mediocrity and achieve success. And for that select handful of human beings who achieve greatness in their chosen field, it is the combination of these aforementioned

DEVOTION. This is where passion manifests itself. This is how successful individuals separate themselves from the complacent.

characteristics, along with often rare innate ability, that elevates them to these lofty heights. In order to achieve success and aspire towards greatness, individuals must endure a “gauntlet of devotion.” They must pass through countless tests, overcome obstacles, endure daily rigors and pressure, and be willing to make sacrifices in order to successfully navigate their gauntlet.

It takes grit, and often a little bit of luck or fortunate circumstances, to survive the gauntlet but in the end, the reward should be worth the price that is paid. But there is one other word Carrey used that is critical to this formula.

DEVOTION. This is where passion manifests itself. This is how successful individuals separate themselves from the complacent. An unwavering desire to achieve a goal is essential to both short and long-term success in life. Devotion, to a cause or a vocation, is the trait that drives those with ambition. Without devotion, you may be able to survive, but you won’t thrive in the field that you hope to succeed in.

So, as another academic year comes to an end, we say farewell to another senior class, and look forward to basking in another summer’s sun, take a moment to think about those truly meaningful words, “gauntlet of devotion.”

Are you prepared to pass through your personal “gauntlet of devotion?” Have you even discovered what your own gauntlet may be yet? Ponder and prepare because if you hope to be successful in life, you will need to be ready to face the challenge of a “gauntlet of devotion.” opportunities that still await you.

Just don’t sit around and miss out on them!