Unassuming

“There is no such thing as a perfect human being, but this guy comes close.” -Mike Sarraille

What have you done, or what do you think you have accomplished at the age of 34?  I know that at the age of 34 I can consider myself a stable, happy, successful person.  I accomplished what I wanted to do, but for the most part, nothing compares to wat this guy has accomplished at a young age.

Can you image at the age of 34 having been a navy SEAL, combat medic, sniper, navigator, and point man, deployed twice in the Middle East, served in over 100 combat missions, awarded the silver star during the battle of Ramadi for bravery above and beyond by saving several Iraqi soldiers during combat and a bronze star.  Graduated Summa Cum Laude at San Diego State in Mathematic, attend and finished medical school at Harvard University, became a doctor in the ER, and then top it off becoming an astronaut?  Yes, all that at 34 years old.  This is not a movie character, this is a real person.  And every time I hear about this guy, I can’t believe it.  His name is Jonny Kim.

Jonny Kim was born and raised in Los Angeles California.  He is Korean American, and at a young age he lost his father in a tragic way.  Hid father was abusive and violent.  One day, his father pulls out a gun and threatens to kill Jonny’s mother.  Jonny was 9 years old, and with all his strength tried to overpower his father, but couldn’t.  As a last resort, Jonny begs his father not to do it.  Telling his father that he still loves him, and there’s still a chance, just leave.  His father, leaves the presence of the family, and Jonny calls 911.  Police arrive, and Jonny noticed something was off in the house.  He realized that it is possible that his father is hiding in the attic.  Jonny tells the police, and the police and Jonny’s father had a confrontation.  Jonny’s father was shot and killed that day. 

Jonny grew up as what he called himself was a “scared little boy.”  All he ever wanted to do was protect his brother and mother.  He got in trouble a lot until one day in high school he heard about the Navy SEALS.  At 16 years old, Jonny went to SEAL training.  A skinny, “unassuming” boy (Jocko Willink) complete SEAL training and becomes part of SEAL Team 3.  While being a solider he went to San Diego State where he graduated with a 3.98 GPA.  After losing two friends in combat, he decided to go to Harvard Medical School to become a doctor.  Soon after, he applied to NASA to become an astronaut.  In a field of 18,000 applicants, 12 were chosen, and he was one of the 12to become an astronaut and is now planning to make a trip to the moon.

I encourage everyone to go on YouTube and check this guy out.  It’s crazy unbelievable and incredibly inspiring.  Apparently, while in SEAL training, nobody gave Jonny a chance.  Everyone thought that he would never make it through the rigorous training, only because he was unassuming, he was quiet, kept to himself, never boastful.  All the SEALs that served with Jonny Kim said he is one of the most humble guys you will ever meet.  It crazy, because all the accolades you think you may have heard of him more often, but Jonny, true to his character, stayed unassuming. 

Imagine, all the people that we may dismiss, or consider to be unassuming, consider to be a nobody, nothing special.  Just because a person isn’t the loudest, or have a bigger than life personality, doesn’t mean that they can’t be a part of something special. 

Nor if we learned anything from Jonny Kim, it is that, regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, location, or social environment, you always have a chance, not just a chance to live a good life, or a life that just gets by, but a life that is excellent.  You don’t have to act like anyone special, you just have to be motivated.  You don’t need to live on handouts, you just need to do it yourself.  You don’t need to praise of men and women to be someone, you just need yourself.