Sprint: to go a short distance and get there quickly.

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Marathon: to go a long distance, which takes patience and time. 

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We've all heard the phrase "Life is not a sprint; it's a marathon", but how can it be applied to our daily life and used in a beneficial way? A "sprint" implies short term gains that can happen quickly and provide instant gratification, whereas a "marathon" takes time and a build-up of skills and endurance. Most people love the sprints, because it's fun to get immediate results, but the marathons are the most rewarding because they are the result of hard work and tenacity. So, how can youths use sprints and marathons to reach their dreams? Here's a few examples:

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They want to write and publish a comic book.

 

Sprints: publish short comics and illustrations on a blog, Instagram post, or in the school newsletter.

Marathon: develop your short comics into a longer story, research the publishing process, and begin querying agents.

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They want to get a job to earn some extra money.

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Sprints: use their paycheck money to buy clothes, go out to the movies, and download iTunes music.

Marathon: put the money into a bank account to save up for a car.

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They want to work for a software company developing programs.

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Sprints: take computer classes at school, learn coding at Code.org, and start an app developing club at school.

Marathon: make good grades in computer classes in high school and college, so they can graduate with a degree in Computer Programming so they are qualified for a good job with a software company.

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