Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Brooke McBee
Brooke McBee
From a temporary obstacle, such as breaking one’s leg, to an immutable barrier, like discrimination, adversity is inevitable, as one cannot go through life dodging every hardship along the way. For some, struggles come earlier and hit harder than others, but everyone must navigate their way through misfortune eventually. Though never fun, dealing with the unavoidable tragedies thrown one’s direction is a critical aspect to developing who a person is and the life they live.
Adversity can impact a person in various ways - social, physical, emotional, mental, and even more, leaving lasting implications on one’s life. Jori Miller, a Hillgrove sophomore, expresses the ways in which she has been influenced: “I dealt with a lot of adversity due to body type and personality… and for a while, that ruled my life, but then I overcame it. It ended up making me a better person, as I have now learned to love myself. But, I still suffer from anxiety and lots of insecurities. The only difference is, I try not to let it hold me back. The anxiety is probably the biggest way it affects me; talking to new people is sometimes the hardest thing I do in a day. So yes, adversity can shape a person, positive or negative. I’ve let it shape me both ways.” Vanessa Wong, another student, further explains, “It can take a toll on your mental state because you’re always self-conscious on how people feel about you. I faced body shaming from my family… and I became insecure about how I looked.”
Because of the detrimental inhibitors adversity can place on one mentally, overcoming the already difficult situation can feel impossible to some. However, inhabiting a few vital characteristics can make the process much easier. To Wong, “pride and confidence are essential, because if you’re comfortable in who you are, what others say won’t have a substantial effect.” Remaining positive and assured in your abilities will outweigh the opinions of others. “Don’t listen to anyone else because they don’t know your life or what is going on. If you believe in yourself, you can get through whatever you may be struggling with.”, Abbigayle Mouchakkaa claims. The idea of self-acceptance before other’s opinions is a recurring thought for many teens, as Jori Miller, too, believes, “The best way to deal with adversity is to love yourself as you are and be confident with that. Letting someone else impose their ideals for your life is fine, people will say what they want, but at the end of the day, you are your own person and nobody can change you. I let people say or think what they want and if I agree, I learn from it, if I don’t, I move on.”
It is crucial to consider other’s adversities, as it can lead to a more respected and deeper understanding of one another, along with a more accurate perception of the world. Like Miller reveals, “No person is without pain.”, everyone suffers hardships that may lead them to feel hopeless from time to time. Though adversity’s considerable effect on one’s life can be “damaging”, as Mouchakkaa describes, it does not have to be. By remaining resilient and assured in who they are as a person, individuals can overcome any barriers that may be blocking them from a bright and buoyant future.
Adversity can impact a person in various ways - social, physical, emotional, mental, and even more, leaving lasting implications on one’s life. Jori Miller, a Hillgrove sophomore, expresses the ways in which she has been influenced: “I dealt with a lot of adversity due to body type and personality… and for a while, that ruled my life, but then I overcame it. It ended up making me a better person, as I have now learned to love myself. But, I still suffer from anxiety and lots of insecurities. The only difference is, I try not to let it hold me back. The anxiety is probably the biggest way it affects me; talking to new people is sometimes the hardest thing I do in a day. So yes, adversity can shape a person, positive or negative. I’ve let it shape me both ways.” Vanessa Wong, another student, further explains, “It can take a toll on your mental state because you’re always self-conscious on how people feel about you. I faced body shaming from my family… and I became insecure about how I looked.”
Because of the detrimental inhibitors adversity can place on one mentally, overcoming the already difficult situation can feel impossible to some. However, inhabiting a few vital characteristics can make the process much easier. To Wong, “pride and confidence are essential, because if you’re comfortable in who you are, what others say won’t have a substantial effect.” Remaining positive and assured in your abilities will outweigh the opinions of others. “Don’t listen to anyone else because they don’t know your life or what is going on. If you believe in yourself, you can get through whatever you may be struggling with.”, Abbigayle Mouchakkaa claims. The idea of self-acceptance before other’s opinions is a recurring thought for many teens, as Jori Miller, too, believes, “The best way to deal with adversity is to love yourself as you are and be confident with that. Letting someone else impose their ideals for your life is fine, people will say what they want, but at the end of the day, you are your own person and nobody can change you. I let people say or think what they want and if I agree, I learn from it, if I don’t, I move on.”
It is crucial to consider other’s adversities, as it can lead to a more respected and deeper understanding of one another, along with a more accurate perception of the world. Like Miller reveals, “No person is without pain.”, everyone suffers hardships that may lead them to feel hopeless from time to time. Though adversity’s considerable effect on one’s life can be “damaging”, as Mouchakkaa describes, it does not have to be. By remaining resilient and assured in who they are as a person, individuals can overcome any barriers that may be blocking them from a bright and buoyant future.