How have obstacles and perseverance shaped your life? What do you believe?
Post submissions here that match this topic thread in comments.
How have obstacles and perseverance shaped your life? What do you believe?
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August 11, 2023 at 8:10 pm
Jacky Rubino
I have had anxiety for as long as I can remember. Whether it was me in kindergarten anxious about my Dad not arriving for career day on time, or when I was in fourth grade telling a therapist I was scared the world was going to end, my anxiety disorder has been a major part of my life. Many would have you believe that anxiety is simply something you can ‘get over’, or fix it by just saying “stop worrying”, but it is more than that. Anxiety, for me at least, is all encompassing. You can not think straight, your mind racing with a million thoughts at once, your heart begins to race, you begin to shake, and you sit there and wonder, “what is wrong with me?”, and, “why am I like this?”. In those dark moments, I try to level myself by breathing in and out, or clenching my fists as hard as I can and slowly releasing the pressure. Therapy has also helped me cope with my anxiety, my therapist letting me talk out my thoughts and feelings, and providing me with strategies to combat those negative emotions. Along with this, medication is also a big help when it comes to coping with anxiety. Before therapy, I was the kind of person that would bottle everything up, until it all exploded into one big incomprehensible mental breakdown, but now, having access to all these resources I feel I am able to manage this major part of my being. I would not have access to all these things, if it were not for self-advocacy. I believe that advocating for yourself is a necessary skill to learn if you want to lead a happy life. Whether it be just asking for help on an assignment, or telling someone you are having a rough time, it is important to ask for help when you need it. While moving onto a campus in a few weeks is not doing wonders for my anxiety, I feel happy that I am going to live on a campus with resources for me and others to reach out for help when/if we need it.
August 14, 2023 at 7:23 pm
Your story is very inspiring on you dealt with anxiety and coped with it.
August 15, 2023 at 1:03 pm
This is very well said! As someone who has also dealt with anxiety all throughout my life I know it can be hard at times to overcome. I’m glad you were able to find the necessary outlets and resources though to preserve through it!
August 11, 2023 at 10:13 pm
Isaiah G
What do you believe?
Something I believe in is it’s hard to rely on people. I say this because throughout my life with friends, adults, and even family I never really had someone who really helped me through stuff I needed to get through. Don’t get me wrong though, I got some advice from some people but those advice never related to issue or never really worked out for me, and when I try to ask and understand more and really try to get a better understanding people just don’t care enough and sometimes refuse to understand my point of view. There’s one time in my life when I was younger in high school, I had a trainer, and I was happy because I could become better at basketball and to see if he’d help me with a mental problem on the court. But that wasn’t the case, he became I would say money hunger and wasn’t really training well or realistic things that will help your game, and to be honest he never really liked me, and he had favorites and never really cared for me or my improvements. Also, my parents were being stingy and didn’t want to do it anymore and would get mad when they had to take me places, so I think that’s another reason but after those years of not really improving I had to mostly do everything myself including mentally for the game and that’s my main issue when playing on court that I’m working on. But I’m very grateful for everything else in my life that people have done for me besides all of that, friends, adults and family, wouldn’t be the person who I am without some people in my life.
August 12, 2023 at 12:13 am
My father has always told me about moderation. Another thing he’s shared with me is that everything is best when it is practiced. I would always reply to him with a half-hearted ‘okay’, but I never really understood what he meant until recent self reflection. Growing up in the digital age is, and will always be a double-edged sword.
Although we have all benefited from the vast intelligence the internet brings accessible to our fingertips, the exponential progression of technology and its ability to keep users watching for longer has been one of its greatest negatives to the human race. It’s easy for parents nowadays to hand their child a phone or tablet and have a machine raise the child rather than having to teach their child about life themselves. Most of my childhood was spent behind a screen. Whether it be a TV, monitor, or phone; my eyes were glued. These days were spent locked in my dark room playing video games with my friends. Isolating myself from anything that was real, only coming out to use the restroom or eat and drink. Up until a couple years ago this is how my day-to-day life looked. That was until I was able to meet my partner who has motivated me to do things that past me would’ve never done. I’m able to leave my room on days where past me would’ve preferred to rot in my bed, scrolling on my phone until the necessity to get up overwhelmed me. I have since deleted those social media apps to help gain control of my life and learned to embrace the boredom in between every moment.
August 13, 2023 at 1:08 am
Riley A
Obstacles have been thrown my way since I was an infant. My first battle was my inability to process milk and baby formula. This was an extreme issue as I was suffering from constant stomach pains and underweight just as a baby. This was just the beginning of the many health issues to emerge as I grew older. I have faced multiple obstacles with my diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux; a danger to my kidneys, sinus tachycardia; a heart condition, endometriosis, asthma, and cancerous cells on my scalp. I struggled socially and mentally as I seemed to always be ill, recovering from surgeries, and never attending school long enough to create meaningful friendships. I questioned why I was so different from others. Why could I not participate in the activities my peers were in? I wanted to be and succeed like everyone else.
While I struggled daily and was behind most of my peers my age, I refused to let it define my strength and perseverance. Despite lengthy absences due to my health issues, I challenged myself academically and socially and, though difficult, have persevered. I have developed a perspective not typical for people my age and continue to push myself every day.
Throughout the years, my endless appointments, frequent visits to my cardiologist and constant trips to the emergency room, created an inspiration for me to thrive in the medical field. I had an urge to help children like me who were scared, confused, and desperate for the everyday obstacles to come to an end.
Although as a child, the constant battles with my health seemed draining, ultimately, I believe I have been shaped into the person I am today due to these obstacles, and I am extremely grateful for it.
August 14, 2023 at 6:52 pm
I liked what you wrote and how you were able to use your obstacles to grow.
August 15, 2023 at 7:09 pm
I really liked how you talked about how you faced many obstacles and how they effected you growing up. I also like how you didn’t let these obstacles you faced define who you are as a person. I like how I can somewhat relate to facing a medical a problem and how it felt, and feeling different. I can also relate to when you said it inspired you to want to do something in the medical field.
August 13, 2023 at 3:22 am
Perseverance can be shown in many different ways, from eating a food you don’t like, all the way to pressing on past life’s biggest hurdles. For me, I’ve had plenty of tough things, and am still going through some now. In my second year of middle school, my anxiety reared it’s ugly head for the first time. As my therapist at the time told me, it was the “perfect storm” of things that ended up sparking the anxiety. My “girlfriend” (if you can call it that in middle school) told me that she liked another guy. Ouch. That mixed with food poisoning I got from a bad McDonalds burger. That anxiety has never gone away. In fact, it’s only added more to my life. By that I mean that it caused my depression to also appear. That as well has never gone away. It’s lessened, but it’s always there. With all that said, I wouldn’t be who i am today without these experiences that I’d wish upon my worst enemy. I don’t mean to sound high and mighty, and I’m not looking for empathy, but I feel like it’s important to tell people about how anxiety and depression can change a person, for better or for worse. People can hide it pretty well too. For a long time, even my closest friends had no idea, so they were pretty worried when in freshman year of highschool, they had no idea where I was for the two weeks that I was at a partial mental facility. All in all, persevering through those hard times got me to be where I am now, and for that, I am thankful.
August 13, 2023 at 6:27 am
Jon M
We as humans are born as blank slates, people that are molded according to their personal experiences and ideals. Some of our journeys, like mine, have their fundamental core in our unrelenting commitment to self-improvement. Whereby we actively shape and refine ourselves via growth, education, and the pursuit of our best selves. As we confront our limits and explore unexplored waters within our own potential, this transforming adventure necessitates both bravery and curiosity. We go on with the unshakeable conviction that the quest of self-improvement is a lifetime journey that enhances not just our own lives but also the world around us, accepting obstacles as stepping stones and failures as lessons. I first came to this realization at a young age when I wanted to get better at drawing. Page by page, picture by picture, I learned that tenacity and patience are the two things that pave the way to development. Every pencil stroke I made helped me improve my abilities, and with each piece I produced, I learnt to appreciate the flaws as valuable markers of growth. This early lesson taught me that self-improvement is a journey rather than a destination, and that trying is just as important as succeeding. I first realized the profound impact that self-improvement may have on influencing not just my artistic ability but also my character and view on life in those solitary moments of commitment. Each piece I created became a snapshot of my growth, a tangible reminder that the pursuit of progress is an exquisite symphony of determination and patience. As the years have unfolded, this understanding has blossomed into a guiding principle that has accompanied me through diverse landscapes of experience. It has been a constant companion through the peaks of triumph and the valleys of challenge. Thus, the finely woven strands of self-improvement that make up life’s tapestry create a narrative of development that transcends the individual and speaks to the spirit of humanity as a whole.
August 13, 2023 at 7:18 pm
My mother always said to me, “Your test will become a testimony. We are going to try one more thing until something works”.
I developed some health issues in 2016 that severely affected my outward appearance, confidence, and willingness to succeed academically, as well as my attendance in school. I was examined by general doctors, pediatricians, dermatologists, internists, and endocrinologists, even going to the lengths of consulting a herbal doctor in my homeland of Jamaica, as well as in the United States, to no avail. During some of those examinations, I have had to endure laser treatments, hospital visits, bed-ridden from pain, and on one occasion, I endured twenty-eight injections in a single session. It was definitely a horrific time in my life and what made it worse was that after all the physical and emotional suffering that had diminished my self-confidence, no medical professional could diagnose my condition.
In 2019, I visited yet another pediatrician who recommended another specialist to try to diagnose my condition and I thought to myself, ‘Here we go again’, but my parents said, “Why not?” Those words would then be engraved into my memory as that visit to the specialist would forever change my life, metaphorically and literally.
Upon our arrival, the specialist immediately deduced the nature of my medical condition. She explained that this was an extremely rare condition in non-white and non-Hispanic children (0.00001%) and that this rarity could be the reason a definitive diagnosis had eluded prior medical professionals for such a long time.
I started treatment, and within two months, I began to see astonishing results. I could not believe the transformation in my body, both physically and mentally, and the emotional improvement in my life, especially at a time when I had just about given up hope. I went back to school after months of absenteeism and discovered that even though I was out of school for months, I was able to catch up in my classes and even surpass all academic expectations. This was in part a result of my parents ensuring that I always had some form of schoolwork to occupy my time if I was not feeling too ill; It was then I discovered my passion for learning about computers, and technology in its entirety (my major is Computer Science).
I have learnt that in life, almost certainly, challenges will arise, however, the spirit of “Why not?” will always propel me to try one more thing and never give up. My challenges have taught me that despite negative circumstances, and times in which it may seem as though all hope has been lost, not only can I prevail, but I will succeed.
August 14, 2023 at 2:17 pm
What a powerful testament to not giving up on ourselves. I’m grateful your story has lead to better health.
August 13, 2023 at 10:07 pm
Anxiety, worry, concern, stress, overthinking: many words that all describe the same emotion, one that I can strongly relate to. While I am not diagnosed with anxiety, I definitely do get anxious about many things, and even more often, overthink about things. An upcoming test in school, what people think of me, sometimes I will even overthink a conversation I had with someone. For me, overthinking has been one of my biggest challenges throughout life. It affects me often, and even when I recognize I am doing it, it is still hard to stop.
However, my mother, one of my biggest supporters in life, showed me an image a few months ago that has drastically changed my view on life, and has helped me to worry a little less about the many troubles and imperfections life has to offer. It said something along the lines of this: “Is there something you can do about the issue? Yes? Then why worry? No? Then why worry?” The more I thought about this after my mother showed it to me, the more I realized its truth.
Sometimes, people, including myself, spend so much of their time worrying about an issue, when in reality, there is no reason to. If there is an issue that you have no control over, why spend the time stressing over it? All you are doing is wasting time and energy that could be spent on more useful and productive things. Alternatively, if there is something you can do about an issue, why worry? Instead of worrying, use that time and energy to be productive and work towards a solution.
While personally I found this a hard mindset to adapt to at first, believe me when I say that it really does help. Because of this revelation, I have found much more enjoyment in life than I would have before, as I would have spent more time worrying and overthinking about things that I can or can not control, whereas now I decide if I can control the issue or not, and simply go on with my day. Because of this mindset, I have been able to overcome many obstacles and persevere through them, allowing me to have more time to just live and enjoy my life.
August 14, 2023 at 2:58 pm
This is so true and something that many people can relate to! I like how you use many rhetorical questions, because these are all questions that a reader could have, and then provide answers or explanations for them.
August 13, 2023 at 10:23 pm
By definition, belief is “trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something.” Each and every person on the Earth holds different beliefs, values, and traditions. A core belief of mine is that you need to trust and be confident in yourself. Confidence helps bring out our true selves, and allows us to live our lives how we want to live them. I had a strong internal battle with confidence in many spots in my life, and overcoming these inner turmoils has allowed me to soar far beyond what I thought I was capable of. One example I can provide is how just a few years ago, I became self conscious and started to doubt myself. Before and during the pandemic, I had heard many insolent comments, even from some of my best friends. People say things without thinking about how they affect others and I’ve come to learn that what we say matters. I fell into a downward spiral of self doubt, and my confidence was at an all time low. In my junior year of highschool, I decided to trust myself, and attempted to overcome some of the negativity I had allowed to creep into my mind. I started working out and really thinking about aiming to be positive despite all of the negativity that is so prevalent in the world. In due time, I had reimagined much of what I expected of my life. Our minds are so powerful, yet we humans use our own minds against us. We begin to hate ourselves, become self conscious, and second guess things that could end up being positive. If we could all change our minds for good, and have full confidence and trust in ourselves, then everyone would be better off. I believe that we can.
August 13, 2023 at 11:29 pm
Every time life pushes you around, how do you respond? Whether it was a bad grade, a broken bone, a mistake you made in a game, or anything negative that deterred you from achieving a specific goal in life, your response to it builds your character for better or for worse. Making it to college definitely isn’t easy, and we’ve all had our challenges to getting to this point. We’ve all responded in our own way and that makes everyone special. Whatever problem you have going forward I know and deep down you know that you are capable of overcoming the obstacle. The biggest thing that I’ve had to overcome, over the past two years, and still dealing with are lingering shoulder injuries. In July 2021, I dislocated my left arm. I knew that I would have a lengthy recovery. After a few months of going to physical therapy and doing exercises on my own every day, nothing was helping. I had an MRI, which means Magnetic resonance imaging, and it turned out that I had torn my labrum, and I ended up needing surgery. After dealing with that I had to redo physical therapy. I know it was a long process that I could overcome though. After completing that, a year and a half goes by and playing basketball I dislocated my arm again. And after another MRI, I found out that I had torn the other part of my labrum that I didn’t tear the first time. I have a long road of physical therapy to continue to do and I am working towards getting back to lifting weights once I get cleared by my doctor. I will give it everything and if I don’t succeed, I’ll have another surgery to fix it so I can get back to where I was in May 2023, and will do it again and again until I get the results I want.
September 3, 2023 at 10:15 pm
I agree with this, when you brought up college it reminded me that they want me to join their school. I have been so nervous the past couple of weeks counting down the days until school starts, fearing for what the future holds. Worrying about silly things like “what if I am late trying to find my classes” or “I am going to fail out”. But here I am still trying to be the best I can be, even if it is the little things like making it through my first day at college.
August 14, 2023 at 3:34 am
Isaiah Evans
Obstacles and perseverance have positively shaped my life through growth. An obstacle that can prevent you from reaching a goal you have is something everyone in their life will experience. Facing an obstacle may seem irritating but persevering through those obstacles is how one can grow as a person rather than just giving up when faced against one. I have faced numerous obstacles before such as comparing myself to others and perfectionism. I would doubt myself because someone would get a higher grade than me on an assignment or they would be better at something I enjoyed like video games. I would put my health at risk by not sleeping to spend hours studying trying to get a perfect grade on every assignment. I would also spend hours practicing to be better at video games I didn’t enjoy playing anymore to be the best. I lost track of my original goals which were to get good grades and have fun playing video games and not be the best or perfect.
For me to overcome these obstacles, I had to take a step back and realize what my original goals were and be aware that nobody is perfect so I shouldn’t try to be either. I then decided to go back to the achievable goals I once had being to get good grades and have fun while gaming. It took perseverance to keep to these goals and not fall back into a negative mindset. When I received assignments back, I had to endure the urge to not ask what grade anybody else received. Instead, I would focus on myself and celebrate the grades I got. When playing a game, I had to not care what the other people were doing and recognize that all that mattered was that I was having fun. Due to my commitment to the goals I had, I was able to persevere against my once negative mindset and acknowledge that everyone is different in their own life.
Persevering through obstacles helped shape my life by helping me realize that I should focus on myself while setting realistic goals and celebrating my accomplishments. I believe that having perseverance towards an obstacle can also positively shape your life if you’re willing to put in the effort.
August 14, 2023 at 3:42 am
In life, there are many obstacles you will come across, some of them might be seen as more difficult than others, and some of us may face more or less than others, but it is important to know that we all have obstacles to face. Something that took me some time to realize was that everyone’s life is different and that you never know what someone else’s life could be like as in what they’re going through, or as I would say, what “obstacles” they have to face in their life. Growing up, I thought my life had some imperfections with the things I would have to deal with wherever it was school, with family, or even between myself. I would always imagine everyone else around me getting along perfectly and having little things to worry about in life, but over time, you realize the world around you isn’t always going to lead you on the right path on its own. Some things may happen unexpectedly, and some situations might have to only rely on you to be the way you want them to be. These are like obstacles in your life that you have to overcome. In my first year of College, I expect to have many obstacles I will have to face, this goes from finding people to fit in with, procrastinating work, or even could be smaller things, like how I will fit free time in my schedule. But in college with all the new people around, everyone around you will have their own obstacles and might have the same fears I might face. It is important to know that keeping a focus on perseverance is a priority, as the number one thing that will help you overcome obstacles, face fears, and reach your goals is yourself. Another important thing is not bringing yourself down during your toughest times, even when you have multiple obstacles stacked on your path, which can be considered an obstacle some might have to face, and that’s ok because everyone has their obstacles.
August 14, 2023 at 1:56 pm
Obstacles…obstacles are sadly something no one can avoid. Obstacles come in many forms big or small. Obstacles can lead you away from your goals. Obstacles do not have a certain time in which they appear. Obstacles require perseverance. Obstacles can affect lives in extreme ways, but the one thing every obstacle has in common is the fact that they are overcomable. Obstacles can help build your character; obstacles can help you see certain aspects of life differently. While writing this as I think of the word “obstacle” I start reminiscing of the many I have already gotten out of the way, from choosing to wake up and get out of bed- to mourning a relative’s death. I believe that any obstacle is possible to tackle, every life is different and no life is perfect. I believe that everyone has the mental and emotional power to keep pushing and getting rid of these obstacles in order to be happy.
Growing up in an immigrant household I was always facing obstacles. At a very young age, I was forced to read, write and learn English to help my parents with real-world problems, at least I can say I was the first to learn English lol. I remember always being asked by my parents “Oscar what does that mean?” or “Oscar, can you explain to tell them…”
Being a kid involved in almost every conversation sucked, I noticed there would be times when my parents were treated differently because of our struggles speaking English, my mother would rather keep questions to herself due to the embarrassment we felt, etc… Being a kid and realizing my parents came here with nothing just to give me a better future itself is an obstacle, because if they didn’t give up, who am I to? Obstacles can forever have a mark on your life, an obstacle can make you never want to go back to a certain part of your life. I believe that any obstacle is worth overcoming to achieve your goals, but I don’t believe an obstacle is enough to say, “I give up”. I have overcome countless obstacles throughout my life that helped me become the hard worker I see myself as. I have got too far deep into my life to let an obstacle win. Your mind is more powerful than any obstacle you are or will be facing. I believe that you got this, and all these struggles given by obstacles will be worth facing and overcoming.
August 14, 2023 at 11:59 pm
Gary M
I totally agree you only truly fail when you give up
August 14, 2023 at 3:06 pm
Cameron Leary
Failure is something that nearly everyone faces but ultimately cannot be avoided. It is additionally what determines an individual’s success. Persevering through failure and correcting one’s mistakes will make someone about as successful as they can possibly be. The mental aspect of accepting hardships and continuing to do something until it is right is essential to reaching one’s goals. Nobody is perfect, everyone fails in their life. With this, believing in oneself is by far the most important in terms of facing obstacles. Weak self-drive and confidence is almost like setting limitations for yourself. Nobody knows their true potential unless they continuously strive for completion and success. This time of year, for students like us can be extremely stressful because some are moving across the country, and all are starting a completely new chapter in our lives. This transition from high school to the closest thing to the real world is starting now. Dreading on minor setbacks in the stage we are at in our lives will only push us back even further. Persevering through failure and hardship will build a person up for the betterment of their true self. Going into college, I have already accepted that obstacles will be a staple in my life. Over the last four years of high school, I learned to have trust in myself. That trust has been built immensely because I never say to myself that I cannot do something. If anybody puts their mind to something, it is most definitely possible. Persevering through uneasy times and breaking free of negativity has built me to be the person I am today.
August 14, 2023 at 3:49 pm
Cristopher N.
A core value of mine that I’ve relied on throughout all my life is hope. There have been lots of times when I’ve struggled to stay positive, and as a result, couldn’t find the strength or motivation to continue on and accomplish my goals. But during said times, I was able to find comfort in the idea that at some point, life would get better and I could be happier. Even if I was depressed or had no idea how to deal with a particular problem at that moment, there was always something to look forward to. Doing well on a tough exam always meant I could look forward to good grades. Getting through a surgery always meant I could look forward to improved health. A difficult day of work always meant I could look forward to future payment. Graduating high school was one of the most rewarding experiences for me, because despite how much stress and hardship it caused for me, I made it through. Due to that, I now have access to many more job opportunities than I otherwise would have, not to mention I now get to attend college and seek higher education in my intended field. My life has undoubtedly improved thanks to the hope I held out as a high schooler when it seemed like it would never end. Even though I don’t always have a bright outlook and there will undoubtedly be moments when it’s impossible to remain positive, I will always have the part of me that subconsciously clings to hope and knows that challenges and obstacles aren’t the end of me.
August 14, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Yasin Mahmoud
I believe in the phrase, “Curiosity killed the cat… but satisfaction brought it back.” When I was five curiosity killed my blissful ignorance of the dangers of being even close to a fire, it killed my courage against a hot surface, not scorching my skin but threatening my hands with such. Yet with death comes life, as a sense of safety brought back my fearlessness; if I cannot approach the fire then I shall protect myself and others from it. When I was six curiosity killed my laziness, growing fresh studying habits in its place. When I was seven curiosity killed the illusion that closing my mouth meant no noise would escape so I could talk with my mouth closed and nobody would be the wiser, while in its place the ability to do the revolutionary task of thinking within my head was equipped to my arsenal of secret techniques of life. When I was ten it killed my desire to blend in and mask my character, and in its place grew “the smart kid who is kinda weird but useful for answers.” When I was thirteen it killed the idea everyone was happy, that every set of parents of my friends was together, that it is easy to stop being sad and to avoid every poisonous coping mechanism a middle schooler could get their hands on, and in its place grew a determination to strengthen myself against the new armies I would be facing against with my music and my writing and my drawings and- When I was fourteen years old curiosity sent me and my sketchbook to the adjustment counselor with a warning that “this kid looks like he could be depressed” from my peers. At that moment two things were born. One, a safeguard against my venting and my personal closest arts from being criticized before prying eyes, and misinterpretations behind communications taken out of context. And two, a genuinely pleasant conversation with the counselor about television shows and life in general, seeing as the two eyes before me did not see any alarm in the book but the flow of information from “the therapist friend” that could not lay rest in his brain or else it would break him. I was sent back to class that day without any more words. When I was fifteen years old curiosity taught me that sickness, time, and a pandemic can turn memories into memoirs and observations into obituaries. Curiosity taught me that my grandfather’s words and lessons were immortal, but his body was not. Curiosity taught me that my home was a sacred place but my room would become a destination for death to strike. Curiosity taught me that “I love you” can shift from a promise to a proposal to a farewell in a matter of seconds when death stands at the door. When I was seventeen years old curiosity taught me that father and son often follow in similar footsteps, as my father was next in line to be added to the list of the lost I kept written in dark red on the banner I proudly hold in my soul. Curiosity taught me that seeing someone’s face when they are alive is sometimes the most and least painful thing to do after they are gone. Curiosity taught me about life and loss and standing and suffering and so much more. But what brought me back was love. What brought me back was hope. What saved me was satisfaction. What saved me was the chanting of a thousand memories given to me by the two men closest to keep fighting. What saved me were the thousand nights I would spend crying into someone’s arms saying “I miss him. I forgave him. I loved him.” What drives me will always be the lessons curiosity taught. What brings me back will always be the safety net satisfaction placed below the tightrope.
August 14, 2023 at 4:46 pm
Life won’t get better until a change is made. My life was shaken up during the summer of 2019. My parents were already divorced and my dad decided to move to another town with his new girlfriend. The move never sat right with me and to add insult to injury I had to share a room with my new “step-brother”, who was at the time half of my age. Also, adding to my tanking mental health, my parents wanted me to follow my sister’s foot-steps and attend a tech school, against my wishes. Both of these made me a shell of myself and I became a background character at my new school and became isolated. At the new school I didn’t have any friends, and everyday I would hope my life would start to get better but would never because I never made an effort for it to. Only after months of the same forgettable and sad routine of this portion of my life did I decide to sign-up for the school’s hockey team. I had never skated or played any form of hockey when signing up, but I couldn’t be cut due to the school’s no-cut policy. For a short while things were improving but I couldn’t get out of my head. I thought everyone was judging me and never attended practice. In total I went to two practices the whole season and in reality they weren’t judging me for being bad, they were mocking me due to my lack of presence. I was a quitter. I knew that things had to change or my life would be stuck like this forever, so I talked to my parents, and switched to my hometown high-school, and there signed-up for the hockey team the next year. Those same kids that mocked me my first year were there, because both schools shared the same team, but instead of last time where I was a joke, the team and coaches respected me, due to me not quitting, attending everything and sticking with it this time, the coach revealed after our final season that the other players viewed me as an inspiration, that I was at my lowest, alone, mocked, a prisoner in my own head, but still in the end didn’t give up. While it was a bumpy road, things didn’t improve for my mental health until I took it upon myself to make the necessary changes I needed. I hope that there is one person reading this that may be going through hard-times similar to I was, to never give up, and to work on improving your life, so that things get better.
August 14, 2023 at 4:53 pm
Gerald Pendergast
I believe that perseverance is the key to success. We as people learn from mistakes, it would be foolish to not take that new knowledge and not try again. When I was in the third grade I went to the gym and did a CrossFit class. One day we were doing box jumps, I was not able to jump on the box. I wanted to quit and leave because I was so embarrassed. After some time to recuperate myself the teacher and my mother, who will never let me forget this ever happened, both got me to try again and eventually I got it. I was no longer embarrassed. Finally doing what had seemed impossible at the time was an amazing feeling. Now every time I am working towards a goal, I understand Failure is part of the process. I need to learn to be great.
Nothing is just given, you need to earn it through hard work, and yes that means try, fail, learn, repeat. Nothing is ever going to be perfect after one try. Even the great Michael Jordan had to persevere, since he was cut from is high school basketball team. This doesn’t just go for sports either the apollo mission failed ten time before they made it to the moon, and Albert Einstein failed his math exam to get into Zurich Polytechnic. Thomas Edison once said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” People make mistakes but the key is to learn and try again.
August 14, 2023 at 5:37 pm
WR
I wake up every morning asking myself how I can build upon yesterday’s work. Entrepreneurs can be defined in many ways, but it’s the obstacles and perseverance that really define us. Entrepreneurs see business opportunities – this is how I see it. Requiring creativity and seeking satisfaction both contribute to success as an entrepreneur. Many obstacles come along with this passion. Whether you fail once or fail five times, the obstacles you face shape you into who you are. Every time you fail, you level up. The perseverance in you to keep going and work around your struggles to improve yourself to the highest potential. I have had a couple of bumps in the road with my experiences. Without obstacles in our path, how are we supposed to improve? Without perseverance, how are we supposed to keep going? Perseverance helps us develop resilience to keep going and move around our obstacles to reach our max potential. For one of my clothing brands, I ordered 150 zip-up hoodies without getting samples to check quality, print, and sizing. This was a small mistake I made, however, when they arrived the printing was slightly different than our mockup. The quality was decent, but the sizing got messed up. I was very frustrated for a while because I figured it would be difficult to sell out. I couldn’t give up as there was nothing much I could do. I persevered and still released them online, after listing them as defects, and with maximum promotion they still sold out. Just a small obstacle could set us back a lot, but if we persevere it will all pay off and bring us to the fullest potential.
August 14, 2023 at 6:21 pm
Obstacles are just a fact of life and you will face many of them. In my 18 years I have faced many of them, especially in my final year of high school. It was the hardest time of my life, having to transition into adulthood that came with extra responsibilities, applying to colleges, and wondering if I would get accepted or not gave me a big feeling of stress and uncertainty. At the beginning of my senior year, my grades were suboptimal and by the end of the year I was barely passing. That is when I realized I had to do something about it. For New Year’s I told myself that I would change my habits and start studying harder so I can get myself into college. Working hard to bring my grades back up and the results showed that I made significant progress. During this time I also filled in college applications and sent them off. Some time had passed then suddenly, the acceptance letters started coming in. I was ecstatic. All of the hard work I had put in finally paid off. I had to believe in myself and push myself to do better than what I thought was just a distant dream. When you feel hopeless, don’t let it push you down. Life itself is unpredictable. You are a strong person inside but if you don’t do anything, nothing will happen. Keep pushing through and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel.
August 21, 2023 at 5:55 pm
This is very well said! As someone who has also had a rather hard couple of years with all of the added stress and responsibilities that will come along in college, I know it can be hard at times to deal with. I’m glad you were able to find the the good in the situation and use your resources to preserve through it!
August 14, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Obstacles are something everyone must face at some point in their lives. As a student athlete during my high school career, I had to face numerous obstacles. My biggest setback was during my freshman year while transitioning from cross country season to winter track. I had been pushing myself hard through the cross-country season, winning around 20 medals from various races. During my off season training it caught up to me and I injured my knee for around 8 months. Throughout this time, I wasn’t able to train and had to go through physical therapy for the remainder of my freshman year, missing out on my winter and spring track seasons. After the first 6 months of physical therapy, I was able to get back into running and training with the team but got reinjured shortly after and had to start physical therapy again. At this point I had felt I would never be able to run again contemplating giving up. After an extra 2 months of physical therapy, I was able to start training again and this time I was able to come back and reclaim my varsity spot on the team. Going through this injury was a huge obstacle for me but I didn’t want to let it define my running career, so I used it as motivation to train harder and get better. I ended up winning almost all the races in my league from that point on and helped my team win numerous championships. When facing obstacles, you can’t let them define you and your success.
August 30, 2023 at 5:08 am
This is similar to my story. Freshman year of high school, I started winter track as a sprinter running for the 4×200 team winning almost every race. Everything was perfect, we qualified for nationals, and we even got a few medals at numerous invitationals. Then I dislocated my knee in gym class and then quarantine started. This caused me to fall apart, and each year, another injury followed. Sophomore year I constantly strained my hamstring, fighting to recover, and going back too early, just to hurt it again. Junior year was even worse, seeded first in the league for the 55m, winning the race, and having the officials call it back for a second run through because someone fell. Second race I placed second, and strained my hamstring again. Senior year, I suffered a year ending ACL tear, and I am still currently recovering. Your story adds on to my motivation and hopefully it will give me enough courage to run track once again.
August 14, 2023 at 6:59 pm
Kayla S.
For as long as I can remember, I have suffered from severe anxiety, ADHD, and depression. When I was in 5th grade, I went to a summer camp in Vermont. I was alone for a week, with zero contact with the outside world. What made this trip difficult is that, on my way there, my parent confided in me that they would be transitioning. I had to be alone for an entire week with just my thoughts. I have always been supportive of her, but this was a large secret and burden for me at such a young age. I have two other siblings but i was the only one who knew. I was told that I couldn’t tell anyone. not even my biological mother. This created a very closed-off environment for me. I didn’t feel like I could trust anyone or talk to anyone. When I was in eighth grade, my mother found out. She also found out that I had known for three years and hadn’t said anything. I had to try different forms of therapy and seek counseling. I am very reliant on my friends. I trust them and talk to them about how I feel more than anyone else. Although I had anxiety and depression, I was not medicated until I turned 18. I went to the doctor on my own, without my mother, to get the treatment I needed. Being independent, and doing stuff on my own is something I enjoy. I overcame the obstacle of being afraid to tell someone when I am hurt or upset. Obstacles could be small or large for different people. It’s all about perception. What may be small to you may be enormous for somebody else. So it is important to check up on loved ones and be there as much as possible for them. I believe that going through what I did shaped me to be stronger woman.
August 14, 2023 at 7:00 pm
Theano Joseph
What do I believe in? I believe in you and coming back up.. Also that is perseverance, perseverance takes a lot out of people. It helps overcome obstacles and challenges them as a person. You overcoming obstacles helps you get that perseverance. There were times where I wanted to give up but I had to mentally challenge myself to overcome my obstacle that I’m facing. They were two times where I had to be perseverant. One time is that when I first started to music people were talking about all types of trash. They would troll me, and they would do all types of things. I had to cancel all the noise and believe in myself. The reason is because I do the music for them. I’m doing it for myself. When I realize that I overcome that obstacle.
Another obstacle I persevered through was basketball. When I started playing basketball I didn’t have the confidence. I also didn’t believe in myself because of confidence. I didn’t know what coaches saw in my basketball talent. I was always putting myself down cause I saw I wasn’t good like people at ball. So that pressure on me like I got to people like them so I can be at the next level. Other people would talk trash and say you suck basketball , you should be playing and other things. However, with all that trash talk and pressure on me. It put a battery on my back to become better and try to get my best even though people said I sucked.
August 14, 2023 at 8:55 pm
EmilioA
My father’s absence has been a persistent pain in my heart and a gap that has seemed hard to fill for as long as I can remember. When he went, I was just a young child, leaving a trail of broken promises, and I often questioned whether I was responsible for such an act. But now, at 18, I stand here more resilient than ever, a monument to my tenacity and capacity to go beyond even the most difficult challenges.
It was challenging growing up without a father. I observed my peers enjoying these special times with their fathers when they played catch in the backyard, went to father-son gatherings, and absorbed life’s teachings from a steadfast guiding hand. Despite my envy for them, I resisted becoming resentful of them. I instead used my emotions to fuel my interests and academic work.
As I progressed through school, I realized that my future was in my hands alone. No one was going to hand me success; I had to earn it. So, I buried myself in books, stayed up countless nights to master subjects, and pushed myself to achieve excellence. It wasn’t easy. There were moments of self-doubt and frustration, but I held onto the vision of the person I wanted to become. Obstacles continued to test me. Financial constraints tried to derail my dreams, but I found part-time jobs and a community of people to help me get through tough times. But despite that, Loneliness threatened to consume me, but I reached out to mentors and friends who offered an abundance of support for me.
The turning point came when I received my acceptance letter to my college that i will soon reside in. It was a triumph not just for me, but for the boy who refused to let his father’s absence define him. I had emerged from the darkness with a strength and resilience that surprised even me. Today, as I stand on the brink of a new chapter, I know that I carry my father’s absence with me, but it no longer weighs me down. It has become a part of my story, a source of strength that fuels my determination to succeed against all odds. I am Emilio Alejandro Aguiar, an 18-year-old who has transformed adversity into opportunity, proving that with unwavering perseverance, I can overcome any obstacle that comes my way.
August 14, 2023 at 10:24 pm
I believe if you try hard enough you can get through anything. Ever since I could talk I have always dreamt to be in the medical field. I did everything I could to make this dream come true. Everything was going smoothly until the age of 16 in August of 2021. I was at the Braintree mall with my family and I noticed something strange when I looked at the escalators I was seeing double. After a few days I started getting very bad migraines, losing strength, was very dizzy, and even half my face went numb. A week later I ended up going to the hospital and they ended up doing an MRI. When they came back with the results they ended up diagnosing me with a concussion but they ended up seeing a white spot on the MRI so they told me to make an appointment at Boston Children’s Hospital that was a few weeks later though. Throughout those weeks I couldn’t stop thinking about that white spotI kept questioning what it was. Thoughts like “am I dying”, “is this serious”, “what does my future have in store”, and “are all my dreams ruined” kept circling my head and making me anxious. When I finally had my appointment they did a lot more tests and they still didn’t know what was wrong. They ended up making me an appointment for a spinal tap which eventually led to me being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. When I first got diagnosed I didn’t know what to do. Would I still be able to be in the medical field would I ever be able to live out my dreams. Fast forward to today I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis for almost two years already and I’m still going strong and getting close to my goals. Now I realize if any challenge comes my way I find a way to fight through it.
August 14, 2023 at 11:58 pm
Gary M
Obstacles are apart of everyday life. they can be small like an argument or disagreement. But then there are others with take much more mental and physical fortitude. In my life much like you I have had my fair share of obstacles. One of which was weight loss. at the start of 2020 I was 185 pounds. I started a diet in April. Then covid happened my gym that I just started to take seriously closed but it did not stop me. Over the next 3 months I lost 40 pounds and began the journey to living a healthy life apart of that was not living a life of small and temporary highs of happiness that I got with gorging on food and started to work on myself. Taking my health seriously and building a strong body . I was no longer a slave to my emotions.
August 15, 2023 at 12:38 am
Getting through high school was an obstacle for me. Of course, it wasn’t always difficult. I had a lot of great times, but I still experienced some things that flipped my life upside down. Important people walking out of my life, friend or family drama, important life opportunities I missed, and things I regret doing are all obstacles I constantly thought about. On top of the mental struggles I was trying to heal from, I had to focus on my school life. Worrying about grades and being an important runner on the track team led me to become mentally drained. I have learned a lot of things that helped me overcome mental struggles over the years. One of the most difficult things I had to learn is the struggle is necessary to grow as a person. You can’t feel sorry for yourself about certain things forever. Eventually, you have to turn the page to the next chapter. So I turned my fixed mindset into an open mindset. By the end of my senior year, I started doing the things that made me feel happy like running and being around my friends more. I also started going to the gym more, which led me to feel better about myself little by little every day. When days got hard I always remember when someone important to me told me, “Never fold your cards.” They would always tell me, “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up and always looks to persevere.” The advice they gave me keeps me going when any obstacle comes into my life.
I eventually graduated high school and finally persevered through it. Going through all the obstacles in high school shaped me into who I am today. All of the struggles I experienced allowed me to have the mental knowledge I have today. It made me mentally tough and allowed me to not care about other people’s opinions. I also would not have picked up all the good habits I have today like being consistent in the gym, staying more relaxed, sleeping more, and more. I believe the obstacles I went through in high school has made me a kinder and healthier person today. It’s okay to say that life is hard or to be upset when life isn’t going the way you want it to, but what’s life without struggle?
September 6, 2023 at 3:12 am
Yea man high school can be tough at times but you know what, sometimes we need to remind ourselves that tomorrow exists and that’s our chance to perform better.
August 15, 2023 at 12:43 am
Justin Mosman
One value I believe deeply is dedication. I believe that with dedication, almost anything is possible. When you are setting goals for yourself, it’s important to realize that some goals take a long time to achieve. Often these painstaking goals are those that have the biggest reward, but it’s often difficult to stay on track when the goal seems so far away. This is what dedication is, it’s your own value to not give up on what you believe in and to stick to your goals and beliefs despite the difficulties. Dedication has become a cornerstone of my life, and I use it every single day. What started this journey for me was when I embarked on a weight loss journey around a year ago. I knew I needed to lose some weight and I had never had the motivation, but in the end my friends were the driving force behind this change, as they all started going to the gym too. At first things were going well, but after some time I started to get impatient with my results. However, I knew that if I didn’t continue to go, that in the end there wouldn’t be any progress made. Over time, I consistently kept coming back and eventually fell in love with the process. I can now say that I have achieved my goal, but this journey also has forever changed my mindset. Whenever I set goals for myself now, I am able to consistently stay dedicated to them, and I know if a goal is too unrealistic, that it will be impossible to follow. In conclusion, my belief in dedication stems from the profound transformation I experienced through my gym journey, but it has now changed my way of thinking and out view on life.
August 15, 2023 at 1:14 am
Amy P
Where are you from? Why do you not look like your parents? What kind of Asian are you? These were questions that I would frequently get growing up. As a kid I never really thought much of it, and I would simply answer them with, “Oh I am adopted.” With just saying that one statement I would find myself surrounded by my classmates asking even more questions. Then kids wanted to be my friends and this is when I thought that I am one of them, I fit in somewhere.
As we all got older, I started to really open my eyes and look around the cafeteria. As I scanned the room, nearly everyone looked alike, and then there was me. I would look at my table and I was surrounded by brunettes and blondes. I looked nothing like them and when I would get home I would look at myself and ask Why am I different? Why don’t I look like everyone else?
When highschool came around, I realized that no one cares what I look like and where I came from, they just care about the person I am and who I chose to be. That’s when I started to look deeper in myself and decided that I shouldn’t waste my energy on what someone thinks of me and the way I look but more on the type of person I want to be and what kind of people I wanna surround myself with. I had to overcome myself to become the strong and independent woman I am today.
August 15, 2023 at 1:33 am
A brutal tackle during a rugby tournament in January left me with a ruptured ACL. The previously vibrant range of options became dismal as the injury threatened to deprive me of my favorite sport. Within, doubt and frustration swirled, but a tenacious spirit kindled determination to recapture my passion.
The first few days of therapy were difficult, with each step a painful reminder of the long road ahead. Nonetheless, with the constant encouragement of loved ones and specialists, a glimmer of optimism appeared. Setbacks resulted in progress.
Months passed, marked by constant work and slight progress. Physical suffering paled in comparison to the mental fortitude gained through adversity. Then came a watershed moment: I was back on the rugby field. As I defied the odds, the fresh air was imbued with a sense of accomplishment.
This journey of perseverance has left an unforgettable impact. The ruptured ACL became a symbol of perseverance, reminding me that even the most difficult challenges can be surmounted. I discovered a source of strength I had no idea existed through unyielding determination.
The ruptured ACL, which was first a cause of sorrow, has now evolved into a compelling story of hope. It reminds me that nothing is insurmountable with steadfast determination, that the human spirit is able to prevail.
August 15, 2023 at 1:47 am
Chloe M
Curiosity has been something I’ve been drawn to for my whole life. When I was younger, I used to want to know how something worked, and then I would end up breaking a toy. I’ve never let that curiosity go, to this day when I’m faced with situations that might challenge my views or are completely new to me, I’m never afraid and I’m open to learning. I value curiosity because if I was afraid of being curious, then I wouldn’t be the person I am today. As someone who is trans, this means I had to look inside myself to figure out who I really am. Once I started thinking so many questions flooded my head. Good or bad, I sifted through them one by one until I felt comfortable in my mind. It was difficult to say the least, and it made me realize that I was scared of looking at that part of me for a long time, but now that I did it I felt great. Taking that experience and putting it to other places in my life, for example in my art. I love doing charcoal drawings, but eventually I got bored of doing them. I tried oil pastels and I enjoyed it, so then I tried more things like oil painting. I might not be the best at the beginning but trying this new thing let me to continue exploring my creativity. I always found the saying “curiosity killed the cat” a bit too negative.
August 15, 2023 at 2:20 am
I have been facing obstacles for a very long time. At a very early age, I was diagnosed with autism, and as I went along it was also revealed I had ADD, and ADHD. When I was 9, I started to get anxiety attacks normally, I would start panicking over things that I didn’t need to be worried about. I would also have a hard time communicating with people, and there were many times I have been shown to be a very aggravated person on top of being a compulsive liar. It was evident many times that the only reason that these obstacles happened was because I created them. This behavior started to vanish, and I progressively had an easier time talking to people, and my usual public displays of anger, embarrassment, and sadness would start to ease more and more. The anger is easier to handle now, although every now and then I can lash out, and then immediately regret what I did afterwards, and realizing I overreacted, which I consider to be a vast improvement of what I used to do, not listen to my own conscience and take my anger to a point where I was disturbing everyone around me. The turning point for me was during the pandemic, which I consider to be a disaster and a blessing at the same time, a blessing because I got to do some reflecting on who I was, and how I could change for the better and a disaster because I felt like if I got the chance to talk to people then, I could make friends that are happy with me being around. Sure enough, when everyone could make a physical appearance at school, I changed for the better, and people started looking at me in a more positive light. Now in fairness, I was still a bit of a jerk, as I had opinions and made statements in private with people who I don’t consider friends anymore that was not right and doesn’t reflect who I am today. By senior year of high school, I truly felt like now more than ever, I’m finally on the right track in my life. I found out who my true friends are, and who were willing to support me, knowing about my disabilities, and help me become a better man. I found out who those people were more and more throughout the year, and now that I’m going into college with them by my side, I feel like I can do great things in this level of education.
August 15, 2023 at 2:24 am
Gracie T.
My health has always been an obstacle for me; it made me want to give up everything I have worked for. I was stuck in constant anxiety over what would happen to me or what my future would look like.
Sophomore year was the time I was not sure if I could make it to college, let alone make it the next year alive. I was taken out of school for months and put into extended hospital stays. I was doing intense treatment and had no energy to do anything. During these times, I lost a ton of friends, dropped out of cheerleading, and was even told I would fail that entire school year and would most likely have to repeat that grade. I was giving up everything I loved, and I could not even recognize who I was anymore.
In the hospital, a nurse realized that I was not getting up, eating, or even texting or calling my friends like I used to. She sat with me after I told her to go away and only wanted to say one thing, “I know you are scared, I know you don’t know what the future holds but that doesn’t mean the present stops.” These words made me realize that I was not at a dead stop in my treatment but that I just needed to get up and keep going. The same nurse became my go-to person, she braided my hair when I couldn’t physically get up and brush my hair because of the pain I was in, she would walk around the hospital floor with me on the nights I couldn’t sleep and just needed someone to talk to, and she was there every step of the way. that one nurse made me want to try, push through pain, do the treatment, and take back the life that was taken from me. Although I still battle my health to this day, the same nurse never left my side. I was set back; I found my person, and she pushed me to keep going.
August 15, 2023 at 2:48 am
Matthew Leaman
Obstacles and perseverance are something that helped me and also destroyed me in a way. No matter what it was that I was faced with I was always able to get over the obstacles that were thrown against me. For example when I was transferring to a new school for highschool I had to meet new people and experience a different culture that I was not used to. Being around people that I had never met and having to meet new friends was very difficult. When I was switching schools it was hard for me to develop new friends and become friends with the people on the wrestling team. That was definitely the most challenging time of highschool especially when I had to vs my home town and vs friends that I had grown up with. Overall the challenges that I have faced in my life are only going to build me into a better and stronger person and help me succeed in my goals that I will be faced with at UMD and the rest of my life. I know that this school will do nothing but help me succeed in my goals and help me conquer and achieve what I have planned for my life. I am more than excited to start school at UMD and meet new people that I can build connections with and push each other to succeed to greatness. These will be a challenging but also exciting 4 years and a great experience for me.
August 15, 2023 at 3:26 am
Everyone in their life will face obstacles. Some of these obstacles can be as major as getting over a lost loved one or something as easy as getting out of bed and getting ready for the day. Trying to face these obstacles and figuring out ways to overcome them can happen in many different ways for each and every person. Some days it feels like you are staring at yourself thinking, “how am I going to do this today?” I have learned over the years that one thing that keeps me going is the idea of hope. The idea of hope feels like you are in a tunnel full of darkness but the one thing keeping you going is that small light you see at the end. No matter how much or how little it feels is there, that is the one thing I believe keeps me going.
Throughout life people will deal with mental, physical, and emotional struggles. Some people will go through more struggles than others and that is completely out of their control. What is way more important than the struggle is how one recovers and perseveres through those struggles. The cards we are given in life are ways to teach us and shape us into the people we become. Having hope is much more important than people think it is. Sometimes that is all we need to get through struggles in life. When there is hope it makes us feel like there is a way out and things will get better even when it seems impossible. There are even times in life where that is all you have for yourself or that you can offer to someone else.
One obstacle in my life that has shaped me into who I am today is when my older brother was in a coma after cardiac arrest at 20 years old. During this time neither the doctors or my family knew what was going to happen or how it would turn out. It was days on days of not knowing what would be the outcome of this incident. It also put my life in perspective of how fragile life is and how it can change in the blink of an eye. This was the biggest obstacle that my family and I have overcome. Having hope during this time got my family and I through it. Each and everyday my family would remind each other that there was still hope and he was strong and willing to fight through this. He eventually started to wean off the medication he was on as well as the machines that were keeping him alive. It seemed that he was getting stronger and stronger everyday after he had woken up. It seemed to almost be a miracle that no one had an explanation to. Throughout what seemed to be the longest three weeks of my life, hope got me through it. Having this hope reminded us everyday that there was still a chance for things to get better. It was hope that got me to where I am today as well as my family along with my brother. He also never gave up on recovering from this incident. He was determined to overcome this obstacle in his life as well. He had hope of doing everything as well or even better than before his cardiac arrest. Not giving up hope is what I believe got my brother to full health.
August 15, 2023 at 3:40 am
I believe in the golden rule. When I talk to people, especially people that are older than myself I try to talk to them in the way I would want to be talked to Even if they aren’t being the nicest to me. I struggle to talk to people, especially in a public setting. I used to struggle to order food when I went out with friends or family. Now I have come far since then and have gotten the confidence to not be shy to talk to people when out and about.
Part of gaining the confidence to not be as shy when talking to strangers was by following the golden rule. Respectfully talking to them as that’s how I would hope they would talk to me. Doing this helped make a more the outing more pleasant. This plan doesn’t work all the
time as some people are just unpleasant especially when it comes to driving and road rage. People think that they are always in the right and this clouds their judgment on things. This can cause them to be very mean towards you even if you didn’t do anything wrong.
A good example of this is when I was at my friend’s house and I parked my car across the street as I had to drive my friend to work soon. I walked to their house and was having fun just talking and having some food. When it was time to go me and my friend walked back to my car. When we got to my car I noticed a middle-aged man walk out of the house I parked next to. I wondered where he was going, perhaps he was going out for a walk or to check the mailbox, but to my horror, he was walking straight to my car. I closed my car door and looked towards him. The first words this man said to me was that he called the cops and why did I park on his lawn and threatened to tow my car If I ever did it again. I answered him in a very polite manner as I would have hoped he said what he wanted a bit nicer. I told him that I didn’t know it was his lawn and that next time I would park elsewhere as I parked near some trees and overgrown grass and it was a bit away from his actual house. my friend and I then got into my car and drove away not wanting to risk making the situation worse.
The point of this story that I experienced is that the man that came up to me did not need to immediately go into the scenario with an angry tone but even though he did I still responded nicely to him even though he was not nice to me. Gaining some confidence in myself in social scenarios allowed me to defend myself in a nice tone to someone who was being nasty to
August 15, 2023 at 3:42 am
Na’Zyia A
What I believe in is that “Everything happens for a reason.” To me, life is like a puzzle, with pieces that might not make sense at first. But every piece has a purpose, even if we can’t figure it out right away.
When I was younger, I used to wonder about a lot of things. I’d ask myself, “Why is this happening to me?” or “What did I do to deserve this?” These questions would pop up whenever I had problems, got in trouble, or when things just didn’t seem fair. I spent a lot of time trying to understand why certain things happened to me.
Being the oldest sibling has affected that; I often had to take on a lot of responsibilities, and I didn’t always like it. But as I grew older and gained perspective, the idea that “Everything happens for a reason” stuck with me. Because even when I couldn’t see the reason right away, I realized that these experiences were shaping me into the person I am today.
Life’s puzzle pieces may not always fit perfectly at first, but I’ve come to trust that each piece has its place. Even if I don’t see the full picture right now, I believe that each experience, whether challenging or joyful, is adding to the bigger picture of my life.
August 15, 2023 at 4:07 am
Daniel Martins
Obstacles have always been a part of my life. Growing up the eldest child of a single immigrant mother, my family faced many struggles. My mother overcame obstacles that came her way and showed me and my brother how to properly handle challenges life might throw our way. Though she had an understanding of most challenges, she’d seek aid at times; Since I was first generation American, she’d often come to me. I’d frequently explained to her what countless situations meant, particularly with language barriers.
At a young age, I had a proper understanding of how to identify an obstacle and overcome it. The majority of the obstacles my family faced were financial and I’d often find myself settling for less to help save money. Once I came of age, I began working and assisted my mother with the bills. My younger brother soon followed by obtaining a job the next year. In doing so, some stress was relieved from my mother.
Money, seemingly, is the biggest obstacle for most Americans. It is a common saying that “money can’t buy happiness” but the lack of money causes people to be unhappy. People lose their homes, lose custody of their children, and can’t even obtain the necessities to live. Living in today’s world is the biggest obstacle any person would have to go through. Even if it seems to be too difficult to overcome, people can make their way through. Seeking a higher education or dedicating one’s self to the workforce, is only one of many solutions to overcome the great financial obstacle.
Staying focused and driven on a goal, will lead to the overcoming of the obstacle at hand. Everyone will inevitably face an obstacle in their lives, they can only have the strength and dedication to overcome it.
August 15, 2023 at 4:15 am
Hey, I’m a human. You are too. No matter how different you and I may seem at times, we are both human. As humans we may encounter tricky situations, some of these things seemingly undefiable. Yet we still find ourselves out of these situations, and as we climb back into the light we leave the struggle and anguish behind. Although we now remain in the light, we still remember the pain and suffering that once plagued our minds and body. The obstacle that we have overcome and the memories left behind are of greater value to our minds than the times we spend when dopamine floods our bodies because as humans we remember the pain. I believe there’s a reason we remember this pain while the good memories escape our minds. Growth and pain have a mutualistic relationship. Pain has this may of molding a human. Pushing them to their absolute limit, discovering their ceiling, and then some. When this amount of pain is achieved, we see growth, not only do we see the growth of a person’s threshold for handling obstacle-ridden situations, but we see growth in the person as a whole.
We segment our lives into months and years. As beknownst to all humans, some of these years are riddled with obstacles. I can remember the best moments of my life. I can vividly remember the worst. This past segment of my life has been, to say the least maturing. I’ve experienced trauma, something many of us are all too familiar with. I was driving on a road near my house when a van suddenly turned and struck my front driver’s side. With a loud crash, my car was brought to a stop. Panic sets in as I swing my door open and make my way over to the van. Inside women sat there crying repeating the words “I’m sorry, I’m sorry”. The woman exited the van and made her way over to a patch of grass where she would drop and proceed to start seizing in front of me. The ambulance was called and her life was saved. As for me, the paramedics were surprised to see me without a scratch on my body. If the van were to turn a second later that could have meant my life. I carry the weight of this obstacle with me every day. I have experienced trauma, and from this experience, I have found growth. I find the breath of fresh air sinking into my lungs as a privilege, something that not all people who have endured trauma can do. I am thankful for the waking moments just because they are waking moments. I now find appreciation in the most minor things such as day-to-day interaction with my peers. My experiences have given me a new perspective on life. If you find yourself bathing in the sorrows of your past endeavors, use them as facilitation for growth. If you find yourself wondering if people understand your pain and can feel your suffering, remember, I am human. You are too.
August 15, 2023 at 4:26 am
Obstacles have been a crucial part of my life as they have had a large role in shaping me into who I am today. One of the most time consuming obstacles for me to persevere through was my parents divorce and the challenge of balancing time and my emotions between my feuding parents. If I had had the opportunity of growing up in one household with both of my parents I think I would be an entirely different person, with an entirely different outlook on life itself. As I was growing up I was given the oppurtunity of experiencing two completely different lifestyles depending on which of my two homes I was currently living in. However, I constantly struggled with smoothly transitioning between the different lifestyles I had been presented with. Regularly, I forgot to pack necessities or confused which days I was supposed to transition between houses. I had a very difficult time differentiating the contrasting values and routines that were displayed by my parents depending on where I was. The change began to feel like a constant reoccurring obstacle. As I grew up, I slowly began to develop my own daily routines despite the environment I was in. This then allowed the change between my two households to feel less radical and as if it was a smaller disruption of my life. As a result of the constant change when I was a child, today I am more adaptable. I am now open to the idea of change. It is important to persevere through the obstacles that we face daily, as they may lead to further positive results in shaping our everyday lives.
August 15, 2023 at 6:26 am
Aryelle Toussaint
Growing up, my parents were always fighting, physically and verbally. When my parents ultimately split. Unfortunately, this led me to experience mental and physical abuse from my mother for nearly a decade. As a kid, I believed that growing up with such a difficult childhood would only have adverse effects. However, as a young adult, I have realized that I developed many positive traits as a direct result of these experiences.
kindness and compassion are traits I have gained from my unfortunate upbringing. Previously I was very timid and avoided confrontation as much as possible due to bullying and at home life. I was the target of every rumor and was bullied to the point of the principal getting involved. Once I entered my senior year I realized my personality had changed, realizing how kind and compassionate I am to others. I first noticed this change within myself earlier this year. Coincidentally a middle school bully of mine ended up at my high school who, unsurprisingly, was picking on one of our classmates. I obviously stood up for the kid because nobody deserves to be bullied for literally just existing. When comparing my confidence to my younger self and now, I feel very accomplished. Now I will stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.
My trusting nature is another trait I developed from my childhood experiences. My dad is a paranoid person that will think you are always lying without cause. Growing up not being able to go to Six Flags because “You could be going somewhere else” will drive anyone up the walls. Because I know the feeling of constantly having to prove oneself I ensure that no one close to me has to feel that way. This led me to be trusting with those around me. I never want anyone to feel the way I feel at home of always trying to prove you’re not lying. I believe those close to me and trust that what they say is true.
Although I will forever feel the lingering effects of my childhood, I still am grateful for the positive things that make me who I am. Finding the light in the darkness is an amazing trait to have. Kindness and compassion are valuable to me because I never had it growing up.
August 15, 2023 at 6:27 am
Kanye Cappas
I may have went through dumb decisions that happened not because I struggling in life but because I made dumb decisions because I wanted to fit in. I went through a traumatic moment in 2019 which scarred me for life but because I had done this action I learned more life lessons to set me on the right path. During the pandemic I lost some sign of hope in passing for the year being isolated. But I wasn’t alone in getting through the troubling times. I was pushed to continue on the path to greatness with some hope. I’m actually quite proud of myself and all the achievements I have gotten and the ones that are still to come. I do lose hope at points and gain sudden surges of hopefulness but isn’t that what trying is. I strive to prove all the haters wrong that I have ulterior motives, not just sit alone in a room all by myself sad and depressed and just deal with life. I have never been told life lessons before that point but soon after that experience my father moved. I live with my mother who works most of the time so we never talk and I just don’t get along well with her unless we go out to talk. This isn’t gonna be a quick thing but takes hard work and dedication to prove that I’m ready to take on whatever the world throws at me. I learned life lessons about multiple things such as work ethic, studying, driving, cooking, saving, responsibility, and being more communicative after these life lessons.
August 15, 2023 at 11:55 pm
Hey Kanye, your perspective on the way you went about Obstacles perseverance and was interesting and relatable because i’ve also made decisions just for the fun of it and sometimes as well to fit in, and it has taught me so much lessons that i live with daily.
August 15, 2023 at 8:55 am
Jamal V
To me the Obstacles you face in life is what god gives you. God challenges you to make you stronger, believe in yourself and never give up. Growing up I believed that I wanted to be the best at what I did and no matter what I wanted to prove that. Ever since I was young, I was always a kid who liked to enjoy sports. Basketball was my sport and I love the game of basketball. I remember the summers of always training and playing just to be better than some of my friends but at the end of the day it just wasn’t enough. My first real challenge was trying out for my high schools basketball team my freshman year. I unfortunately didn’t make it. At that moment I felt down and was upset, I was like “Why, what could’ve I’ve done.” I ended up trying Track and Field instead and ever since it’s been my sport till now. I wasn’t the greatest runner my freshman year but when covid happened I felt like I didn’t know what to do anymore. I didn’t do a sport my sophomore year and I felt lazy and worthless. Before my junior year came around I came to my senses and vowed to push myself and build myself to become stronger and faster. While I wasn’t the fastest runner, I made improvements and was able to qualify in the 55 meter dash. It was my greatest achievement at that point and it was my proudest moment. Senior year was my last year to make the best of myself but then tragedy struck for me. Towards the end of my winter season I ended up suffering a minor concussion. That was the lowest moment up to my life at that point because something that was so important to me I couldn’t finish out. I ended up sitting out and wasn’t able to compete in the races I qualified for. I asked myself, “Why me, why now.” Up to that point I never had a major injury affect me like that, but one thing about me is I wanna make myself get better. I went through the recovery process and came back to spring better than before. My times improved and improved and I never felt better. I believed that no matter what, I would just work hard and come back better than ever. Your mind and mentality is what keeps u motivated to keep going. Life gets tough and you have to go through obstacles you don’t wanna go through, but its okay everyone goes through something. Set your goals and persevere through them. As I head to college, I know I will have many obstacles set to come my way, but as long as I have a positive mind and god is on my side anything is possible.
August 15, 2023 at 9:30 pm
I’m sorry that you had to face that major obstacle. You are so strong and really did persevere. I hope that you continue to persevere throughout your hardships in life, not only in college.
August 23, 2023 at 4:00 am
I thoroughly enjoyed how you incorporated God. As a Christian, I believe that there is purpose behind everything, even the struggles that we face. Throughout your narrative, I captured the importance you put on having a positive mindset and God by your side; anything is possible through God!
August 15, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Sofia P
In life there are many obstacles that everyone has to overcome. My biggest and first obstacle I had to overcome was moving to a new country and learning a new language. It started when I was 7 my parents decided they wanted to move to the United States to give me and my sister a better future. From then they started the process and shortly after I was saying goodbye to my grandparents and family. We then got on the plane. I had never been on one before so at first it was a little scary but then me and my sister met this other girl that was around our age and we became friends, we played games and talked the whole time.
Once we had arrived we had family waiting for us. We then said hello to all of them and started the hour drive home. A few weeks after our arrival my mom and god mother enrolled me in school and this is where it all began. My godmother bought me books to help me learn English and how to write and pronounce words. I then started school shortly after and had to take a bus for the first time. Once I arrived at school I had no clue where I was going or who my teacher was. I had no friends either. I didn’t really know how to talk to anyone, everything was so different. I had a teacher who spoke Spanish which was helpful because it was close to Portuguese. It was hard learning the language and how to speak it but it didn’t take me too long to pick up on it. It was definitely hard but having ESL teachers was helpful and cousins who only spoke English. It was very hard adjusting to my new life. But after a while it got easier I started making friends and understanding what was going on in school and it became easier. I wouldn’t have been able to overcome this if i didn’t have people that believed in me and if i didn’t want it really bad myself.
August 15, 2023 at 2:21 pm
My first day on the football field was during the fall of 2014, second grade. That glorious day I signed an unwritten contract, one that meant I would become a football player. I once had a great coach who proclaimed the distinction between football-players and people who play football. People who play football are those who expect to gain from their participation, they do not commit themselves to the sport, they do the minimum, and tend to hate practice. Football-players are those who, like I, commit themselves to the sport, give everything to the game with no expectation, only hope, that the game will reward them. Football-players sign the unwritten contract that allows football to become a part of them. The game is made of obstacles and adversity. As a defensive tackle I go against the guard or center every play who are, perhaps the most enormous obstacles. As a football-player I must handle my emotions aptly when a referee makes a bad call, when coach makes a decision I don’t agree with, or conversely, when I make a good play.
On another note, my mentality regarding adversity is unique in that when I am faced with obstacles, I see them as a hill to climb. My philosophy is that I must feel satisfied by my efforts for gain in life. Everything is earned, nothing is given. Thus, I remain comfortable when encountering obstacles because I know that I must work hard, and undoubtedly earn the right to move forward.
August 15, 2023 at 2:34 pm
Gabriela M
All throughout my life, art has been an unwavering passion of mine. An outlet for me to freely express all the thoughts and emotions residing within me. Though as I embarked on my artistic journey I encountered both profound rewards and formidable challenges. Overcoming self-doubt, finding your unique style, and maintaining consistent practice are all factors that come into improvement. Additionally, dealing with creative blocks and balancing my personal life and artistic pursuits is no easy feat. Navigating the competitive nature of the art world presents itself as a big obstacle. It’s so very easy to fall into the temptation of comparing your work to others. Feeling as though you’ll never improve or catch up. As if you may forever linger inside a deep crevice while you watch others soar above. It can be tiring at times and a little disheartening. Though through this I’ve learned that with every challenge comes an opportunity to grow. Further pushing my boundaries and to evolve my own craft. It makes you realize that sometimes we focus too much on the destination rather than the journey itself. This not only applies to my creative endeavors, but with all hardships we face throughout life. We may fall behind the radiant trails blazed by others only to wonder if our light could ever burn as brilliantly. However, it’s important to take a step back and realize that our journey unfolds at our own pace. The areas where we fall short are what makes us learn and improve as human beings. Each brush stroke on the canvas of life is what tells our story. Birthing a narrative that is unmistakably your own.
August 15, 2023 at 3:16 pm
Emily H.
8/14/2023
UMD This I believe.
Great struggles engender perseverance so we can offer hope to others.
Struggles can come in all shapes and sizes, loops and turns, and faces. Or no face at all.
In 2008, my parents got divorced. My mom came out of the divorce with nothing to her name but her kids and the pictures she took of us. While standing in line to get food stamps with my mom, I learned from her that it is crucial to persevere through hard times to give hope to others and find peace for yourself.
My ability to preserve and keep my faith in God came to a test during my senior year. My close friend, whom I played saxophone and track with for many years, committed suicide. As a track captain my time for grief was squashed by the responsibility of looking out for my teammates.
During this season of my life, I felt like I was walking around my life with a blindfold on. Crashing and bumping into more challenges. My dad’s addiction, dealing with a misconduct case from a coach, and going through a hard breakup.
Being out on the other end of this season of battling depression, anxiety, and abuse. I have found it is important to share my story with others to show that it gets better, even when life feels like hell.
Regardless of your story, big or small, it is important to share it. You never know who has ears to listen, eyes to see, and a mind to receive.
I aim to create “hope disciples” – people who have been given hope and gone out into the world to give hope to others to continue the cycle.
August 29, 2023 at 1:34 am
I’m sorry that you had to go through that. I think it is a testament to who you are that you are able to persevere through such hardships and get where you are today.
August 15, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Corey K
To me, obstacles are just roadblocks and things in life that everyone faces that you must overcome. Sometimes it is very difficult, and you may not want to or may not think you can but that is when you show adversity and power through it. By doing this it makes you stronger as a person both mentally and physically. An obstacle I have overcome in my life that has gotten me to where I am today is my learning disability. I was diagnosed with this at a young age. I have always been a pretty good athlete and sports have come easy to me, but school was always a struggle. I had a very difficult time in the classroom which caused me many problems. Instead of giving up and backing down I approached the problem head on and learned how to deal with it and it has gotten better with time. I still deal with it, and it is still a factor in my everyday life but I learn how to manage it and persevere around it so I can be successful and live my life the best I can. I believe this has shown me how to be mentally tough and also not to give up. These tools I have learned to help me persevere have not only helped me in the classroom but on the field as an athlete and in everyday life as a normal kid too. If it wasn’t for this, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
August 16, 2023 at 1:39 pm
Thanks for sharing, Corey! The Office of Student Accessibility can help folks with learning disabilities on campus. More information is available here: https://www.umassd.edu/accessibility/
August 15, 2023 at 6:28 pm
Mia S.
You are the only person that is responsible for your own success. The choices throughout your life are the decisions that will determine your future. As I was going into high school, I enrolled into a new school where I did not know anyone. I decided to enroll in the soccer program at the highschool in hopes of making friends. I had never played soccer until this point, I showed up to the first day of tryouts and felt like an outcast. I was shy and did not want to speak to anyone. I eventually made friends with my teammates and they helped me become more comfortable. Over the course of the season I spent more time practicing and improving my skills but I compared myself to other players on the team. I made the conscious decision to go to practice everyday, even when I felt that I wasn’t good enough to play on the team. I eventually made the varsity team, got closer with my teammates and coaches, and started every game. It was one of the best times I had in high school and I went on to play all four years. I made mistakes because I was a new player but learned and grew from these lessons. I will never regret joining the soccer team as it made me more sociable, improved my time management, and helped me persevere through my lowest points. Everyday you are given a choice to commit yourself to create a better future. Even though I had an amazing team and support system, the only person that is responsible for your success is you.
August 15, 2023 at 8:38 pm
Alex M
I learned that obstacles are what define you. Some people run into an obstacle and just give up. Other people use that obstacle to make them better. They use it as fuel to motivate them. That is the difference between a winner mindset and a loser mindset.
When I was in 7th grade, I was a wide receiver for the football team. I was not that good but I worked hard all offseason to become one of the starters. Once the season started I earned the starting spot. The first game I scored 2 touchdowns and the second game I scored another touchdown. In the first quarter of the 3rd game I injured my back. The doctor said that I would have to miss the whole season and do rehab for a few months. This demotivated me after I worked hard all season to become a starter. I thought about giving up and quitting. My parents taught me to never give up on something you love so I stuck with football. I stayed patient and went to rehab. When rehab was done, I continued to work hard in the offseason just like I did the year before. Once I was back I earned the starting spot back. My patience and perseverance paid off. I was better than I was before after hitting a growth spurt and putting on muscle. This shows that everyone can run into obstacles, but it’s what you do with the obstacle that defines if you will be successful or not.