I'm very grateful and fully aware that 90 percent of actors are

In the words of Jesse Williams, “I’m very grateful and fully aware that 90 percent of actors are not working. Going from public school teacher to a show like Grey’s Anatomy, I love what I do.” Here lies a testimony not merely of an individual’s triumph, but of the eternal truth that life offers no guaranteed path, and that labor mixed with fortune may raise a soul from obscurity to renown. When he speaks, Williams does not boast of fame nor wealth, but humbles himself before the reality that countless others strive in vain. His heart bows in gratitude, and his tongue utters reverence for the sacred gift of work.

Let us pause and remember that before the bright lights and cameras, Jesse was not an icon of the screen but a humble teacher in the public schools, shaping minds and planting seeds of wisdom in young hearts. The classroom, not the stage, was his temple; chalk dust, not the applause of millions, marked his daily ritual. Yet even from such beginnings, he rose—not because the heavens decreed him more worthy than others, but because diligence met opportunity, and destiny unveiled a door. His gratitude reflects this knowledge: that chance, perseverance, and grace converged to deliver him into the realm of the fortunate few.

Such humility has been sung before in the annals of history. Recall the tale of Diogenes the Cynic, who, though clad in rags and dwelling in a barrel, spoke with a freedom and wisdom that kings envied. When Alexander the Great asked what he might grant him, Diogenes replied, “Stand out of my light.” The conqueror of the known world, in that moment, recognized the greatness of a man who desired nothing. Though their stations were vastly different, both Alexander and Diogenes stood upon the same ground of fate. Likewise, Jesse Williams knows that many actors, like Diogenes, live in shadows while only a few bask in the sun. Yet he does not forget them—his words are not of pride, but of reverence for the struggle shared by all who labor unseen.

In this awareness lies a heroic truth: to love one’s work is to win a victory greater than riches. For what is gold to the weary soul who hates his task? What is fame to the one who labors in bitterness? But the man who delights in his craft, who wakes each morning with fire in his spirit, possesses a treasure no emperor can steal. Jesse’s love for his calling is a light, a beacon for those who wander, reminding us that the highest reward is not the role we are given, but the joy of embodying it fully.

We, too, must heed this lesson. Perhaps we are not actors on grand stages, nor teachers in bustling schools, nor healers of the sick as in Grey’s Anatomy. Yet each of us has a role, however humble, in the great drama of existence. The farmer tending his field, the mother guiding her child, the craftsman shaping wood with steady hand—all are actors upon the eternal stage. To despise one’s role is to curse the play itself, but to embrace it with love is to turn even toil into poetry.

Practical wisdom may be drawn from these words: be mindful of gratitude in whatever station you dwell. Begin each day not by counting what you lack, but by blessing what is already in your hands. If your work is small, make it noble by the greatness of your spirit. If your labor is unseen, remember that the roots of the tree lie buried in darkness, yet without them no branch could rise toward the heavens. Seek opportunities, but do not scorn beginnings; for even the celebrated Jesse Williams once stood not before cameras, but before a chalkboard.

Thus, let this be the teaching: honor your labor, love your calling, and walk humbly with fortune. For the world is vast and uncertain, and many who strive shall never taste recognition. But if you remain faithful to your craft, if you cherish the gift of work and nurture it with gratitude, you will already possess a joy deeper than applause. And if destiny grants you more, let your heart be as Jesse’s—aware, humble, and filled with love for the journey itself.

In this way, you shall not merely live—you shall thrive as an artist of life, whether your stage be the classroom, the marketplace, or the great halls of renown.