"In the Army, when you graduate from being a soldier to a noncommissioned officer, you earn the title of "Sergeant." In that moment, you earn your stripes, the upward-facing rockers that affix to your uniform. Those stripes are the symbol that shows you are a leader- that you assume responsibility for yourself and those around you. It took me a lot to get there. It's been a hard road. And every step of the way- every additional rank, every additional accomplishment, every great success- has required more of me. I have had to sacrifice more, suffer more, and yes, fail more. Failure isn't final. It's necessary. It's the fuel that allows you to advance, to succeed. To earn those stripes, you need to earn those scars first."