Be Relentless
By: Niko Hartman
Tags: Personal Development, Goals, Automotive, Journey, Personal Growth

Journey Across The State

Life Is going to test us at times. Life Is going to throw you curve-balls. It’s up to us to take those curve-balls and knock em out of the park. Nobody is coming to save us but ourselves and more than you think that is all you need. It does help to have the kindness of strangers along the way as well.

I want to share with you a personal story that i think truly defines what it means to be relentless at least in my view , and when you find your true path and believe in it more than everything life will find a way of helping you or getting out of your way. This was my journey. My trip from Ft. Hood TX to Houston.

I grew up a relatively poor kid, weren’t completely homeless or starving but we were far from well off. In school I was very bright but my home life was a burden, and I had trouble focusing on class.Needless to say My grades weren't the best and my attendance was minor. There was one class that I Always attended and Got Straight A’s in though.

Auto Shop. Books were boring the lectures were a bore, but something about engines inspired me. I could use my hands to create something and immediately see the results. I participated in competitions, but it was tough finding other that shared my passion the way I did, and everything was teams. So I competed but I never won.

I just enjoyed doing what I loved at a high level and testing my skill. When it was close to my senior year I started looking into schools. The top school in the country was Universal Technical Institute. Everyone at the top dealerships as well as NASCAR went to the school. So when it was time to choose there was no other options this was where I wanted to go.

I went to the school for a tour. I took the test. Passed with flying colors. I was just about in.All I needed was the money.Well once again bad grades and being a poor kid was holding me back. Well I got denied Financial Aid and my hopes of UTI were done. I never forgot though…..

I ended up getting forced out of high school and signed up for a lesser auto school. Eventually I was forced out of the Auto school as well. It just wasn’t the place for me. I joined the Army and developed my skills as a mechanic in the military. I learned what I needed and became very good but I never forgot UTI.

When it came time to leave the military I made it my mission to pick up where I left off. I had free college now. I could finally afford UTI. I didn't need my family. I didn’t need my grades. I was in. I found my own way.

I ensured my last duty station was in Texas and made a plan to attend UTI Houston. In The Summer of 2015 Everything was set. I had my DD214. I was enrolled in UTI. I had a cool mustang I built myself and All I had to do was pack my bags and drive.

The Easy Part Right?

Wrong. A week before I left the mustang went down on me. I wasn’t leaving it behind though. This was the project i was going to be working on in school. My last check was $1500 So I bought a $1000 truck and a tow bar to pull the mustang. Once again I was heading to Houston I was going to UTI.

The night before I packed up my truck and hooked the car to the back. I filled up both tanks of the truck and it was off to Houston. It was just me and my puppy and the two vehicles. On a 6 hour drive to the hotel I would stay in until I found a place.

One Hour in to the drive I noticed the fender was messed up on the mustang. I pulled over and it had torn up the tire. There was enough tread left so i took off the fender put it in the car and journeyed on.

Another Hour into The trip I noticed one of the magnetic lights came off the car. Not too much of a big deal I got out and moved them to the truck instead. 30 minutes later the wind took the magnetic light.

Hour three we are halfway through the journey and the first tank starts to run out so I hit the switch to the second tank.

The truck immediately dies. I’m in the middle of nowhere Texas 300 miles from my destination. No money no gas just a truck full of clothes a puppy and luckily a gas can.

The nearest Gas station was three miles. I wasn’t going to make my dog walk it so. I put my puppy on my shoulders a gas can in my hand and started walking.

Two miles in someone saw me and pulled over. They asked if I needed help. They took us to the gas station got us gas and water. Then took us back to the truck. This whole process repeated itself for the next 2 hours.

It was probably three or four more times. I have never been the type to ask for help. I even offered to sell some of my stuff off the back of my truck . Nobody wanted to buy anything they just wanted to truly help. I owe a lot to them and honestly i wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for kind people in this world and I try my best to repeat what they have done for me. All they ever asked was that I paid it forward.

So we came down to the final hour of the journey. I was 5 miles from my hotel and lost as hell. My phone died so I lost my GPS and once again I was running out of gas. I decided to stop at a gas station to ask directions, and just in case I ran out of gas again I was at a pump.

As soon as I turned the corner the tow bar broke. My truck went right my mustang went straight into another vehicle completely destroying my mustang. I had put everything into this car. This was my project I built from the ground up. I new every part of it and it was destroyed. I was devastated and once again I was out of gas. I know go figure.

Well I called my insurance and a tow truck came out took the car and luckily gave me gas and directions. I drove my truck without my car after everything to my hotel. As soon as i pulled into the parking lot the belt on the truck snapped and it dropped coolant everywhere.

Mustang gone. Truck broken. Tired. Frustrated. I had made it. School started the next day, and I was the first one there and the happiest person in the room.

I had been hit with just about everything you could think of. I could of quit a million times. I could of turned around. I didn’t. I had wanted to go to this school my entire life and I had an opportunity and nothing was stopping me.

We will all have destinations in our lives we work hard to get to. There are going to be hurdles we are going to go through to get there. Sometimes we are going to run out of gas along the way. Sometimes we are going to have to sacrifice things we care about. People are going to come and go in our life but we just need to always remember….

“As Long As You Stay On The Road You Will Eventually Reach Your Destination”

Keep chasing your dreams,Keep moving forward,Take Care Of those You Care About,Don’t Be Afraid Of Help, And Pay It Forward

I am Niko Hartman, I thank you for taking the time to read my article. I understand there are plenty of articles on medium and you taking the time to read mine means the world to me. I am constantly trying to grow at both a content creator and a person so I can keep bringing better articles to you. I always look forward to your input and responses and would love to hear from you. You can can reach at the following. I will take the time to read all responses and look forward to your feedback.

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