Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized that "tragedy had struck"¦I was going to make a B rather than an A. I was 23 years old, and the class was Advanced Accounting during the MBA program at Baylor. This was a tragedy for me because I worked very, very hard to make all As. As that point in my life, my significance depended on what I accomplished not only in the classroom, but in leadership positions in student organizations as well. As a professor in the accounting department at SMU, I see students all around me also striving for significance in their lives. Some students focus on academic achievement as indicated by a high grade point average. Many will only feel fulfilled when they land that prestigious, high-paying job. Others seek recognition that comes from being a leader with their peers. While all of these activities are ultimately good, when a person's entire self image depends on these things, it can lead to great emptiness. What happens when you get a C rather than an A? What if you don't get that internship, promotion or are laid off? This hollow perspective on life leads to tremendous pressure. Furthermore, no accomplishment is ever as completely fulfilling and glorious as imagined. Thankfully, I have learned there is another way to approach life. Ultimately, I understand that I will never be able to have it all. Hope is found in admitting that truth, letting go of control, and trusting God with my entire life. God has changed me over time, and He continues that molding process to this day. It took many years for me to fully understand that God loves me unconditionally and sees me as significant because He created me, and that's the perspective that matters most. As I more fully realize that God designed me with certain abilities and certain weaknesses, my significance becomes more and more from God and His plan for my life and less and less about myself. My happiness becomes more and more related to my relationship with Jesus Christ, not from my resume or credentials. God has gradually freed me from my driven personality, replaced stress with peace, and provided a tremendous sense of purpose. Oh, I still fall back into my old bad patterns, but God faithfully forgives me and God's word as well as family and friends encourage me to keep moving in the right direction. I know that many of you who took the time to read this story have had a very different spiritual journey, and that's OK. I want you to know that I really do appreciate and respect the special qualities I see in each of my students. I love getting to know you because it's truly the best part of my job. I would love to learn about your spiritual journey as well if you are interested in sharing it with me.