Their are many obstacles that hinder people mostly on their progress. Some could be small like challenges on games, or even small chores. Many can be indecisive between choosing to do homework or do it later to having fun. A good portion would be what you’re next move; Which can be a obstacle slowing you down. The main one is Time.
Time is what people only realize once they notice that there running out of it. It’s what makes people under preform, not give their best potential. Its stopped many people to make their dreams that they wanted when they were little. its the one Big thing that have made lives little more miserable. but reasons are is because people have many things they want to do
This 18 year wanted to do a lot of things which brought one thing to another and another and so on. not only this 18 year old but many people. But it was until they realized Time is limited so instead of doing everything people will have the time to focus on 1 Thing. That is how you will persevere against Time.
There will be moments throughout your life that you inevitably make the wrong decision, move away from your intuition and face the repercussions of those choices. When this occurs, we are not victims of the world around us; instead we are victims of ourselves. You may be your own worst critic, but you can learn to be your greatest source of motivation.
Unfortunately, many children grow up angry. Angry at family, angry at friends, angry at support systems and furious with themselves. People who grow up under narcissistic influence might believe that they will never be sufficient. In personal experience I found myself stacking expectations for myself that were far beyond what I was capable of achieving in a healthy way. I channeled my anger into hours of physically demanding weightlifting sessions. For a while I was making amazing progress and fitness became my identity.
The image that I had worked so hard to tailor was destroying my relationships, my self esteem and more importantly my sense of self. I was so hyper fixated on how I looked that I didn’t allow myself to get close to anyone in fear they would see me how I saw myself. I was in a competition with both myself, and the world around me where I was never in first place. I would continue to ignore the cracking joints partnered with nausea until eventually my immune system gave out completely. For the first time I was forced to take a break, and to my surprise the world didn’t end.
During that break I learned to work alongside great people, not in spite of them. That you should train to feel good, not solely to look good. To forgive the people who have hurt you, for they themselves are hurt. To show kindness to yourself, for resentment only works against you. And most importantly to trust your intuition, for it is there to guide you.
What I have learned in my life is that life is not perfect. You will come across setbacks, depression, hardships, and a lot of other things that can affect you in some way. Sometimes we might even think that we aren’t good enough and we would try to overwork ourselves in any way to try to make ourselves “perfect”. but the reality of it is that nobody’s perfect, and all we can do is figure out how we can get though it and move on with positivity, and work on ourselves physically and mentally so we can live life to its fullest.
What I have learned in my life is that life is not perfect. You will come across setbacks, depression, hardships, and a lot of other things that can affect you in some way. Sometimes we might even think that we aren’t good enough and we would try to overwork ourselves in any way to try to make ourselves “perfect”. but the reality of it is that nobody’s perfect, and all we can do is figure out how we can get though it and move on with positivity, and work on ourselves physically and mentally so we can live life to its fullest.
Throughout our lives, we are bound to face a number of grueling challenges and we will have to make many strenuous decisions as we grow older. In fact, many of us have already dealt with our fair share of obstacles. While everyone deals with misfortune and mishaps, not everyone has the same way of coping through these problems.
Growing up is a great way for people to figure out who they are or who they might be, and time makes us question ourselves quite often (some more than others). Ever since the seventh grade, I was stuck questioning my self identity and my self expression. I grew up being very insecure due to a fear of judgement that I developed very early. The most impactful time of my life was around freshman year when I started to question my identity. At the time, I did not consider myself “feminine” and I cringed at the thought of being considered a girl. I started to wear more gender neutral clothes, I cut my hair, and I even did my makeup to make myself appear more masculine. Of course, this transition came with a lot of self doubt and body dysmorphia which made my self esteem plummet.
I look back at those days and I realize that I should never be so hard on myself when it comes to “being perfect” and rather just focus on being myself. I have persevered and learned to not let the thought of others judging me get in the way of who I truly am. These obstacles have not made me change how I identify or how I dress or even how I talk, but they have helped me be the most authentic me that I can be, and that will never change.
This is so well said and I completely agree that you should always be your authentic self no matter what. I feel like a lot of people focus more on other’s perceptions rather than their own opinions.
One of my best friends I met in middle school. Sitting alone on the schoolyard bench by himself I went over to introduce myself. We have been best friends since then.
Ian and I have so many things in common even though on the outside we are very different. Ian was a shy kid who never spoke to anyone, I was a social butterfly. His parents were happy we became friends. We would play video games together all the time and then he invited me to his house to swim in his inground pool. His parents call me the “Ian whisperer” because I am the only one who could make Ian talk.
Ian decided he would get a job at our local supermarket. How was he going to talk to anyone? Then, he met Ashley. Ashley was also a friend of mine. Now I can talk, but Ashley, she can talk a hundred times more than I can! So, between Ashley and myself Ian was bombarded with words, questions and conversations.
Recently, Ian shared his diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) with me. I had no idea he had ADHD. I made a point to learn all I could. The symptoms are broad and the outlook is different for everyone, but Ian is doing quite well. He graduated high school with honors and is going to school for engineering. Both Ian and myself have invisible disabilities, the difference is Ian knew about mine all along.
Throughout my life, I’ve been substantially happier when I’m working towards a goal set by myself. Spending too long relaxing will leave me unfulfilled and discontent. Unfortunately, I really struggle to find the motivation to partake in my favorite hobbies, which has developed insecurities within myself.
I’ve had many periods of time where I dream about doing the activities I love, yet I’m always held back by a worrisome thought in my mind. It’s a fear of mine that tricks me into believing I’ll just be wasting my time with hobbies, and I’ve spent too much of my life feeling meaningless and avoiding new experiences due to this fear. Lately, I’ve been trying to overcome this and convince myself that my happiness is meaningful and worth my time.
This new mindset I’ve acquired thanks to my self-dissatisfaction and my lovely partner’s encouragement has allowed me to experiment with new interests. I’ve attempted to make music, and despite my failures in it, I still feel as if this experience helped grow me as a person. More significantly though, I’ve been researching coding and game development on my own time. While I plan to fully learn coding during college, taking time to learn about my lifelong passion has led to my life feeling meaningful to me.
My first step towards taking control of my life was successful, and I’ve become more optimistic for my future. All you need is to push yourself forward into new horizons and you’ll grow within them.
I remember as a kid, I always wondered about having superpowers. Whether it be flight, super strength, or super speed… you know, anything you’d see in a TV cartoon. As I grew older, I realized that disappointingly yes, superpowers don’t exist. However, there are powers that we have as normal human beings that are just as great if not greater. In my short but notable lifetime, I’ve discovered that perseverance is one of the greatest powers we have as human beings.
My story of perseverance comes from my senior year football season. I didn’t know much about the sport when I first started as a sophomore. So naturally when senior year came, I knew it was time to get serious. Summer workouts at 8 in the morning weren’t easy and I remember the first week of practice being one of the toughest experiences ever. It was around 95 degrees every single day. Although it was strenuous, I knew I had to push through. Then came the first game. I remember being so nervous when it was show time but I knew all that hard work I put in wouldn’t be for nothing. We ended up winning that game and I was awarded MaxPreps player of the game.
In my opinion, perseverance is important because it’s the most beautiful form of strength in a person. It means more than just not giving up, it embodies the human spirit of resilience and determination. Throughout history, countless individuals and groups have shown astounding perseverance. That being said, it’s important to recognize that we all can persevere in anything we struggle with in our lives. Perseverance shows that the human spirit can overcome any obstacle and accomplish goals when combined with unyielding resolve and unwavering commitment.
I agree that perseverance is a beautiful thing! I’m glad you allowed yourself to go through with that game and come out victorious. I hope you continue to perservere this way!
Old doors will shut, and new doors will open. Everything happens for a reason. Many times in life, doors will shut behind you, or right in your face. It’s easy to dwell on the past and criticize yourself for what you could’ve done differently, but it’s best to move forward. You are meant to be where you are now, hard times make you stronger and without lows in life there are no highs.
I have lived by this motto for quite some time now, and I wish I adopted it sooner. Throughout my life many doors have shut. People have walked out of my life that I thought I couldn’t live without, my best friends, my exes, all with little to no explanation as to why. Grief can make you want to turn around and pry that door back open, but you wouldn’t keep shaking the handle of a locked door in real life. Maybe you would, but you know breaking that door down won’t fix anything, and things will never be the same as they were before. It’s funny how after adopting this motto my perspective on life has changed so drastically, and without the haze of prolonged grief obstructing my vision, I can now see new doors opening to me. The butterfly effect is real, accept your fate and let it make you stronger. Go with the flow and don’t force things that aren’t meant to be. Learn to be comfortable in your own company, work hard, and chase your dreams.
I resonated very much with the last few sentences, and I wholeheartedly agree with your statements. I wish I had realized that philosophy sooner as well, and I’m glad we’ve both come to realize it with time.
What is the most used excuse for procrastination? It’s either “I don’t want to do it” or “I don’t have time for it.” For me, it was “I don’t have time for it.” My junior year I took a bunch of AP classes, played two sports for school, worked 2-3 days a week, played travel sports all year round, was in clubs at school, and volunteered 1 day a week. I felt as if I didn’t have time for many other activities.
However, as the year went on my belief changed in some ways. Yes, there is not enough time in the world to do everything that one wants to do in 24 hours. Yes, some days feel so short to complete more than a few tasks. Yes, some days feel so long that all one wants to do is lay in bed. But, if there is something that someone wants to do, they will make time for it. Whether it is seeing friends, studying for a specific topic, playing sports or whatever it is, a person will make time for it. It all comes down to priorities.
Now that we are entering college, our academics will be a priority for us. Not just because it has to be paid for but because it is something that we all worked so hard to get to. Everyone had different paths to get to college, but we are here because we worked hard and had our priorities straight. This is something we must continue through our journey because there won’t be enough time for everything, but we have to put what matters more to us first. This is a belief that may stay with some of us through our time at UMassD, but we must change our mindset to be positive. With that, we can achieve all that we have dreamed of.
Flash back to around October/November of last year: Right around College application deadlines. I had begun to stress about whether I felt ready or not, whether I had prepared enough, whether I had enough recommendations, and about a million other things that I hadn’t done enough of. It was one such evening when I had a conversation with my father, where I asked him: “When will I feel ready?” I meant this about not just college but life and being an adult as well, as my eighteenth birthday was just around the corner. His response was rather jarring to me at the time, coming from someone who I thought had everything figured out, he said: “You don’t.”
Two simple words; two words that powerfully resonated with me. If not even he was ready for life and adulting, then who could be. It then became apparent to me that we won’t ever truly be ready for anything. We can spend as long as we want planning and preparing, but it won’t change the fact that we have to just do it: we have to grow up, we have to live, we have to become adults, and we have to take charge of our lives. We may look at our parents and teachers and think that they have some secret technique to be ready for things, but they don’t, they simply understand that there come situations where no amount of preparation will help, and you just have to take the dive into the unknown. Sometimes the only preparation we really need is the first step.
Reading this opened my eyes to a perspective I hadn’t seen. Thinking that everyone else had all the answers, but really this is their first time living, just like us.
I’ve realized throughout all of my school years that perseverance is the most important thing to keep with me, no matter what happens. As someone with severe anxiety, things were very hard for me from fourth grade through all of middle and high school. I felt as though I were afraid of everything and everyone, and I never wanted to come out of my shell, in fear of judgement or failure. Growing up, this has shown itself several times to me in the form of many, many panic attacks, giving up on opportunities I would’ve done well in, feeling as though I couldn’t speak for myself, and countless other habits that slowed me down. I just couldn’t break the barrier.
Now, I’ve realized that there were two things I lacked. Confidence, and perseverance. In pursuing art, I’ve realized that in order to make an impact and see my dream come to life, I need to display my art for people to see, rather than hiding away and hoping silently for something to happen. Now, I’ve learned to offer to show my achievements, and push through struggles of everyday life while doing so. Anxiety still keeps itself around, but I finally feel like myself. I’ve won awards in school, made bonds, lost bonds, went through many ups and downs in my mental health, but it never occurred to me why I made it through all of this in the first place — until I grew close with my teachers, and they helped me realize what it was.
Perseverance. It was through this that I began to shine, and I couldn’t be happier. No longer will I let myself be stuck in the past, nor will I be afraid for the future. Because now, I finally believe in myself and my own potential, and I believe that I deserve to be happy with how far I’ve come. Here’s to the future.
This is worded so well. I also had to search for my confidence a little through the things I love to do. I know now that perseverance comes with difficulties and that’s okay, we just have to have the willingness to persist!
Trinity L.
Taking care of my mental health has been one of the most troubling and impactful experiences in my life. Catering to it requires regular attention, patience, and self-compassion. It involves acknowledging your emotions, embracing the highs and lows, and giving yourself space to reflect amongst all the chaos in your mind and body. Taking time to allow yourself to connect with others, taking walks, practicing coping mechanisms, and seeing the light whilst in the dark, are just the beginning ways to cater to your mental health. It’s about building resilience and finding balance, much like adjusting to new environments and finding comfort within them.
My journey towards understanding mental health began during a troubling period in high school. From the pressure of academic challenges, self esteem issues, getting along with peers, and personal conflicts within my brain, I found myself overwhelmed. The weight of expectations pressing heavily on my mind and heart caused me to lose focus. It was during this time that I sought therapy and learned the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care. This focus didn’t just improve my well-being, it changed my outlook on life and allowed me to see myself and acknowledge my pain more than the average teenager is able to. I developed empathy for those I also seen that were struggling and reflected my own trials and tribulations onto them for guidance.
Mental health isn’t just a personal matter, it’s an ongoing worldwide burden amongst our minds and a collective responsibility. For our UMassD community, I believe that adapting a culture of openness and support can create an environment where everyone feels valued and understood in a world full of societal norms. When we prioritize mental health, we contribute to a stronger, more connected community, where friends, family, teachers, and peers can succeed together. My experiences have shown me the importance of developing a supportive network and coping mechanisms , and I believe it’s essential for us all to listen and learn from each other’s journeys.
Do you believe that you can be an inspiration to those who are struggling with mental health?
I was a Stanley cup hater since day one. To me, those gargantuan water bottles were the ultimate display of consumerism. I would watch the videos of people camping out in front of Target, waiting for the doors to open at 8am, just to stampede through the store in search of these cups. Online, people dedicated themselves to collecting these $45 cups, equipping them with bags, snack trays, coasters, straw covers, and charms, all attached to these five-pound monstrosities. So, when my uncle decided that the perfect gift for my 18th birthday would be one of those cups I despised, I was in shock.
Of course I could never announce my disapproval to his face, as he had generously spent $45 on a water bottle he assumed I would be ecstatic to receive. I thanked him for it, and lied saying how useful it would be to me. The whole time knowing that it would go unused, as I was afraid to be seen with a cup that’s very existence went against my values of anti-consumerism.
My new Stanley sat untouched on my shelf for about a month. I could not bring it to school with me; it was far too big and heavy. The idea of taking this cup out in public felt humiliating. What would people think of me? Would they see me as a woman who blindly follows trends, trying to get her hands on the latest over-priced status symbol to compensate for her own insecurity? There was no way for people to know that this cup was a gift, or that this cup’s very existence disgusted me.
At the same time, however, I started to realize that not using the cup was somehow making me feel even worse. There was nothing wrong with this cup; it was good quality and in perfect condition. My uncle had bought this cup with the intention of it being used and appreciated by me, and there were so many other people who would have been extremely thankful for this gift. Leaving this cup completely untouched, and therefore completely useless, was inherently worse.
After my reflection, I decided to do what I had feared most: bring my Stanley out into the world. Was it excessively heavy? Yes. Did it fit in any of my bags? No. But it kept my ice cold and held my water like it was supposed to. And as I lugged my Stanley through the world with me, I finally realized that no one cared about the cup I was carrying, except for me. After overcoming my personal hatred of Stanley cups, I realized that despite something seeming embarrassing to use, we should be using objects to their full potential, as wasting something in the name of appearing anti-consumeristic is hypocritical.
As life goes on, there are times where it can get hard. Obstacles will come your way and sometimes it feels like it is the end of the world when it really isn’t. Other times it’s enjoyable and everything is a smooth sail, but the obstacles can come crashing down ruining your flow.
I believe the obstacles that we face during our life are God’s way of making us stronger. Teaching us lessons that we are supposed to learn, even though it might feel terrible during the time period. At the end, we bounce back as a new and better version of ourselves. It could be a moment or even a person. For me it was a moment, a really tough one. Summer of 2023 I had gotten into a car accident, and if I didn’t wear a seatbelt I would’ve gotten seriously injured or even more than that. That car accident tore me into pieces. My first ever car was gone. I cried for days. I thought my life wouldn’t have gotten better from the moment on. I saved up and spent all that I had on that car, but that wasn’t God’s plan. That car accident was surely a lesson for me. To be more careful on the road and to cherish the things I own. I worked hard and got another car that I’m more careful of now.
The obstacles that we face aren’t to make life harder, but to teach us something. To learn something. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
I have always heard everything happens for a reason, and though not everything is a good reason and sometimes it doesn’t even make sense, but I also think that there is always something to learn in any experience life throws at you.
For most of my life, I believed that stability and a strict routine were the keys to success. That having a clear, unchanging plan was the best way to achieve my goals. Having this belief gave me comfort and it gave me a sense of control and predictability in a world of chaos.
When my junior year rolled around, my belief changed. I was told that the school I’ve been attending for the past three years was closing and I’d have to transfer to a new school. This taught me the importance of being adaptable. As I was forced to say goodbye to my familiar teachers, friends, and classrooms and be in a completely new environment it felt like a complete setback, but it soon became a valuable learning experience.
Adapting to a new school environment caused me to get out of my comfort zone and helped me develop new skills. I had to make new friends, navigate different academic expectations, and learn my way around a new community. This showed me that adaptability is not just about surviving through the change but also how to flourish in it. It taught me to embrace uncertainty, be flexible, and always keep an open mind.
My new belief in adaptability has now become important to me. Adapting is essential for anyone’s personal growth and collective progress in an always-changing world. By embracing change, you not only become more resilient and innovative you become always prepared to tackle any future challenges.
As I prepare for college and beyond, I try to remember that adaptability is a strength that I can use to turn any unexpected changes into an opportunity for growth. Even though embracing change might be challenging at times it can also lead to incredible opportunities for your growth and development. Imagine the positive impact if we all embraced the changes coming our way.
As I have matured into a young Black woman, my life has unfolded in a series of transformative stages. Initially, I thought my identity and success were tied to conforming to societal expectations, which felt like invisible chains dictating my every move. As college is approaching, I realize my journey has been about breaking free from these constraints and embracing confidence in my womanhood. I once believed that fitting in and succeeding meant adhering to societal norms for a young Black woman.
However, a pivotal moment came in my sophomore year of high school when I attended a talk by a successful Black woman in STEM. Seeing someone who looked like me thriving in a field I was passionate about sparked a new possibility within me, making me question the limitations I had placed on myself.
In addition, I struggled with self-love due to societal beauty standards that often-excluded bodies like mine. This changed when I chose to embrace physical activity as empowerment rather than fitting a certain image. I started going to the gym to burn off steam and work towards my self-love journey. Building physical strength boosted my confidence and helped me embrace all aspects of myself—my body, facial features, hair, and be more resilient.
I learned that flourishing means redefining societal norms to include and celebrate diversity. I hope to inspire others at UMass Dartmouth to celebrate their unique identities and understand that flourishing means different things to different people.
At times, life throws obstacles at you that seem as though they are impossible to get over. For me, this happened at a very young age. When I was 3, my father had decided to leave his wife and 4 children behind. At the time, I did not realize that this would affect my life so dramatically. As I got older, I watched as my friend grew up with their father’s in their lives and I realized that I was living a much harder life than the rest of them. I watched as they learned things from their dad’s that I would have to learn by myself.
It is from this experience that I believe that obstacles and overcoming them are just what make us unique and give us the strength we need to survive in the harsh reality that is life. Without these obstacles, us as a society would be entirely too comfortable in our lives and would never learn the things we learn from making mistakes and overcoming obstacles.
When you hear the phrase “foster kid” what is your initial thought?
Upon hearing this most people will assume the child in question is troubled. In most cases, they are, but they then equate “troubled” with rebellious. The truth of the matter is not all foster kids are BAD kids. While it may simply be an implicit bias, it continues to negatively affect the lives of foster care youth as, once it becomes known to others, it tends to become the predominant way they are viewed. This makes it difficult to form relationships in school especially. I know this to be true because I myself made these assumptions.
When I was in eighth grade, there was a transfer student. I remember him sharing that he was a foster child and found that I formed a negative opinion of him based solely off that. I believe I formed this bias due to the fact that whenever I would do something wrong as a child, my parents would threaten to “get rid” of me. Well, here I am now.
Like most foster youth, as a result of actions that were not my own, I have been placed in foster care for the past three years. This experience has opened my eyes to not only my own bias, but the bias of others around me. As a result of this, I met other struggling foster youth and found that it wasn’t just myself, a majority of us struggled to be better but we are NOT bad kids.
I hope that, coming from someone that has experienced and faced these stereotypes firsthand, the common belief that foster care youth are bad changes.
Questioning a long-held belief Is often a transformative experience, reshaping our perspectives and deepening our understanding. One moment for me occurred when I confronted the idea that hard work alone guarantees you to be successful in life. For much of my life, I believed that if I simply put in all my effort, success would inevitably follow. This belief was reinforced by stories of self-made individuals and motivational rhetoric emphasizing perseverance.
However, during a challenging period in my life I found myself working tirelessly yet still falling short of my goals. Despite my dedication I encountered numerous setbacks beyond my control, this led to me questioning whether or not hard work was truly the key to success or if there were other factors that came into play.
As I reflected on this, I realized that while hard work is crucial it is not the only determining factor of success. Circumstances such as opportunities, timing, and even luck play significant roles. Furthermore, systemic issues like economic inequality can limit access to the resources needed to succeed, regardless of the effort put in.
This realization was quite humbling if im being honest..It forced me to acknowledge the complexity of success and the privilege I had in believing that hard work was the only ingredient and determining fact needed. It also deepened my empathy for others whose struggles may not. Be overcome by sheer effort alone. In questioning this belief I developed a more nuanced understanding of success and the myriad factors that contribute to it, making me more appreciative of my own journey and more supportive of others paths.
Jenna R
A boy made me ponder the reality of reasonings. I grew up hearing “what’s meant to be, will be.” Alongside with “everything happens for a reason.” As a little girl I didn’t think to question those phrases, I just carried them around with me subconsciously. So every time I fell off my bike, or took a tumble in my sport, I believed that there was always some reason behind it. I’ve grown out of that belief.
I first started second guessing those two, seemingly harmless, phrases in the middle of my very first relationship. Because sure, maybe I was meant to get a little bruised and beat up doing my sport, in order to learn toughness and perseverance. But was I meant to know the feeling of betrayal by a partner at the age of 15? Did I need to know what it felt like to have been taken advantage of by a significant other, before I could even learn the “birds and the bees”? I don’t think you need to experience physical and emotional pain, to gain the ability to understand. I definitely don’t believe that every situation concludes with a learning experience. You don’t need to experience pain, to grasp the concept of it. Do you need to chop a finger off to know it’s going to hurt like a bitch? No. Because not everything needs to be a learning experience. Going through pain can lead to making you stronger, sure. But it’s not necessary, to be equipped with that knowledge.
You don’t need to undergo a toxic friendship or relationship, just because in the end it will “make you stronger.” You don’t need to settle for something erroneous, for the sole purpose of thinking it has to happen, in order to discern its full capability. I may not ever know the pain of being kicked in the balls, but I don’t need to feel it to have empathy, compassion, and the understanding that it’s excruciating.
So what do I believe? I believe that our own experiences can be used to help us grow and understand, but those experiences are not a necessity. I don’t conclude that we must encounter good or bad, to fathom what is favorable and what is unfavorable.
I’ve gone through something similar in a relationship, and I completely understand your realization. It’s hard when we expect that “everything happens for a reason”, only to find that some experiences are just painful. Like you, I also realized that we shouldn’t need to suffer to grow or understand things. We can learn from our experiences, but not every hardship has to be a lesson.
Galen Hawkowl
Throughout the early part of my life, I just believed everything that people told me and done everything people told me to do. For the most part, I still do what I am told to do, but I push back more if it is something I don’t like. At some point, I learned not to believe everything everyone says; I think that happened before the Trump presidency, when everyone was talking about what news is trustworthy or not. I think I started to question things I was told because my brother likes to say things he knows aren’t true and create very elaborate stories to see if I would believe him. I remember when he was in third grade and I was in sixth grade, he started telling my family about a small island named Silly. At the time, I believed him and even started talking about what I would do when we got to this island. I learned not to believe everything he said when I realized that what he was saying was outlandish, and then I stopped believing anything he said. Realizing that what my brother was saying wasn’t true, I started to question what other people said. My brother still loves to create elaborate stories, to the point where my family (or at least I) have stopped really believing anything he says. The way I decide whether to believe what other people are saying is by considering whether I think what they said is weird: if it sounds surprising, I am likely to look into it—I ask other people or the internet.
If given the choice between doing something hard or going insane, I find a concerning amount of people would take a running jump, forehead first into hysteria. Insanity is described as repeating identical actions over and over yet expecting a somehow transcendent outcome, as if touching the burning hot stove for the umpteenth time would illicit a cooling sensation. I believe anyone walking around with this obtuse purview is at best ill-advised and at worst willfully ignorant.
This inane mental gymnastic some find themselves performing can be surmised under many aliases, but the most poignant to be complaining. Complaining can wear many faces and include a plethora of nuances. These nuances are often used to justify a lack of meaningful exertion towards one’s problem, even going as far as implying that they justify either partially or entirely not doing a thing about them. I don’t mean to sound as if I’m devoid of all empathy and as if I’ve lived an existence beyond reproach; I have not; in fact, I’ve in the past and possibly currently within my subconscious commit the offense I write about above, but I believe those who know themselves to harbor such predilections and attempt to change are those who see the light of reason.
Life is a complicated endeavor, brimming with possibilities and problems at every junction. Maybe you don’t have as much time as everyone else around you to prepare in the morning for school or work; maybe you don’t have as much money as your peers to appear the way you want to; maybe you got your dad’s genes as a girl and have to shave your unibrow every other week. These, while all being problems admittedly, can’t be wished away; no amount of praying and begging can get you to where you want to be. No one in recorded history has ever received a fairy god parent, and I’d be willing to bet you won’t be the first. Many of the same people who are as familiar with complaining as they are with breathing have people around them that agree with them and keep them in this state of complacency.
If life were a simplistic turn of phrase, it’d be easy to tell that both the constant barrage of excuses, explanations, and paper-thin rationales and the hive-mind-esque support systems around you can be like crabs in a barrel, keeping you just still enough in place to never truly get anywhere in life. Holding on to you with the same grip one does with a life-saving raft. If you find yourself realizing that these are the hallmarks of your problems in life, then I strongly recommend you do something about it. Just try, try, and fix whatever issue you believe is plaguing your life. Let reason and logic be the rogue wave that shakes the barrel just enough to throw you into the safety of the water.
Complaining about a problem you can fix accomplishes nothing and only serves to waste time and energy. Choose solutions, choose answers. When adversity strikes, ask yourself, “What am I going to do?”.
Ava C
Coming from a small school it was so easy for me to assume things about my pears considering I out his battles with suicide and fitting in. He described how he was playing basketball and was really struggling mentally and took it out on his family team mates and girlfriend at the time. He later on started asking if anyone else would like to share their story and at first no one raised their hands because its a very awkward situation to be sharing Infront of not just your peers but now your whole school. The first kid I’ve seem before in the hallways he was 2 years younger then me. He doesn’t say anything and goes up to the speaker and starts crying in his arms he then explains to the speaker and whole school how he’s a foster kid and has never felt like he’s had a home or loved by anyone. After he shared this story more and more people kept sharing their stories. This kid that was an incoming freshman and he’s smaller then most kids. He then explains that he was diagnosed with leukemia cancer when he was 3 and that’s why he’s smaller then most kids and his father is very abusive to him and his mother. While hearing all of this I kept thinking about how you really have no idea about anyone’s lives and never to judge anyone. This still effects me to this day and i think about this all the time.
Zachary C
Going through life their will always be things to get in your way, like family and relationship issues, money, town or country issues, and so many other things in life.
For me being raised by a single mother with my sister was something I had too take into consideration because I had to realize that my mother was doing all the heavy lifting of raising two kids on her own and also dealing with her life problems. I was raised different then most kids mainly for the fact that my mom was raised by a military father so she kept some of those habits with her when she was talking and giving us life lessons like always making eye contact , make sure your hair is out of your face when speaking to someone and always standing straight. She made she sure that me and my sister were always respectful and kind too our elders and older family members. She also made sure we were got our education anyway possible even if it wasn’t in school, for me starting off with school was rough mainly because my temper and just not going too a good school but once my mom got the chance to move she took it and moved me to a better school and even bumped me up a grade to be with kids my age. from that point on things started to get better for me in school while at home things were starting to get more tense my sister argued with my mom and ended up leaving which she was my rock when my mom was not around. Then one week my mom decided to take me on a trip to Florida to visit my grandma then she thought about moving down too Florida for a change and too also take care of my grandma better. Once we moved down things started off weird for me and my mom because me and her did not have money saved to get a house yet or to get ourselves started to do really anything so we stayed at my grandmas house till we were able to get what we needed and also a house. Once I was able to start school that was one of the main things I was not prepared for, mainly for the whole switch of scenery and just everything from what I was used too. Clothing even down to the way they talked was basically new to me so I had to learn how they talked and dressed. But once I found people to talk too and more friends to hang out with it was starting to get better, I was even working with my neighbors lawn cleaning company for a decent amount of pay as well. But my mom thought it would be better if I finished school back up north with my dad who was never in the picture even when I was born so this through everything I had in plan for myself off the tables which made me a bit lost on what I wanted to do with myself and my future. I had a good amount of time ton think about it and also a lot of time in school to get the help and training I needed to make the decision of even going to college. Then once I noticed how well I was doing in my classes and becoming the top of a couple of my classes just made my dream of going to college even more in view especially playing sports I saw opportunities coming my way more then what I saw when I was still in Florida. I ended up getting a call from my stepdad saying my mom got arrested for something she shouldn’t have been doing so this stopped my mental part of myself because my mother was my role model and she ended up doing something stupid. After I got to call and talk to her about wat happened I just wished her safety and love and told her to called me every week just too check in and make sure she is doing ok. Given what has happened to me in the given years I’d say I wish it never happened but glad it did because this made me learn quicker and become more mature so I can become more independent and more able to do things when I get more older in life.
Sabrina T-
I grew up believing that success was a linear term: if you did well enough in school and attended a college institution, then it would lead to getting into some prestigious job and from there continue upwards on the corporate scale. My parents pushed this line as the only way I could get on in life to have a stable and well-off future, both not reluctantly never have gone to college themselves. In middle school, there were two girls by the same name of which I was a part. Though we had the same name we were referred to differently I was the “smart one” while she was the “popular one.” I respected this name and enjoyed being the smart girl with top honors, volunteer hours, and countless extracurriculars until 2020 COVID-19 happened.
By my sophomore year in high school, a life-changing experience broke that foundation. This was the year after Covid-19 my first year of in-person high school. It was quite challenging for me to have to readjust to this type of learning having just adapted to distance learning as the new way of education. I then began to realize that despite me committing myself to school I was not always going to get the best grades or valedictorian. I then lost hope in being the “smart girl” and had even dropped all thoughts on being able to achieve college. Although on my transcript I may have not looked like the best student I still follow this belief as in my senior year when I reapplied myself, I was able to restore my faith in myself and now I am enrolled in UMass D’s class of 2028.
I believe that no one should be scared to be wrong. In most of our day-to-day lives, people go through the day without having to think about being right or wrong, but when it comes time to think about whether you’re right or wrong, people will almost always shift towards the opinion or option that the majority has picked, even though it may be wrong or not the best choice, and that limits them from learning.
I know that when I think differently from other people and end up being wrong, it doesn’t always feel the best, but I know that at the end of it, I learned something new that I hadn’t before. I also know that when I think differently but I turn out to be right, it’s one of the best feelings, and I want everyone else to feel these feelings because I think they are things you need to feel to become a better version of yourself.
This belief is not just important to me but to everyone else, because being wrong just proves you have the courage to learn new things and ideas, and learning is the thing you will do the most in your life, so why fear being wrong if it means you get to learn?
Learning new things is always the best option, so don’t let the fear of being wrong get in the way of that.
So true. A lot of people are afraid to say something or do something that might be wrong when in some cases it is right. Never be afraid to say what you think because you could be right but if you are wrong then you will learn the right answer.
Dimitri V
The idea of success, and what it means to be successful, or prosperous is one belief that has changed as I’ve gotten older. Obtaining high amounts of money, getting good grades in school, having a respectable job. These were all rough ideas that I believed made someone successful. This belief originated from what surrounded me as I grew up. The tv shows I watched, the people I spoke with, even my own teachers. I had believed that to be happy you would need to be successful, and this success could only be achieved with the ideas mentioned earlier. As I have grown older, I now know this could not be farther from the truth. One particular event that changed the way I thought about success was a vacation I took to the island of Saint Michael. While there I practically lived as a resident, and got to experience the island as someone from an outside perspective. Most living on the Azores archipelago of Portugal lacked wealth. But for some reason, a 13 year old me, questioned why these impoverished residents were always smiling. The answer to this question I now know stems from what success really means. Success doesn’t care about how much money you have, or how you did academically in school. The true meaning of success is dependent on an individual’s own aspiration, ideas, goals, values, and point of purpose. The idea of success to some people can be getting rich, and having people respect you, and that wouldn’t be wrong. However, those who are poor, and struggling can also be successful, as long as that’s what they truly believe.
I agree with this. Success in itself is such a variable concept that entirely depends on one’s own goals. These goals vastly vary from person to person, so it’s interesting to see what people consider their own success.
Katelyn A
There has always been a belief that my mother has instilled in me ever since I was a child. She has always told me, “good things come to those who wait”. There have been many experiences in my life where I have wanted something right in that moment, however I have learned that patience and hard work can lead to so many great things. It could have been as little as me wanting to open a gift on Christmas Eve, to applying to colleges hoping and praying I will get accepted. This belief has been questionable at times, as not everything that comes with hard work happens as one would expect. However, in my opinion, that just means there is something even better to work for. An example for my personal life is this college. I am going for a nursing degree. Although it is going to be four years of persistent studying and endless stressful nights, when I have that degree in my hand, there are going to be so many doors open for me. So many opportunities at my fingertips open for me to explore my new world.
Earlier, I mentioned that it is my mother who has taught me this belief throughout my life. There has been a very specific example that she has always stood by, and that is her having children. My parents were unable to have children in the natural process. Therefore, they drove about two hours every week, to check in with a doctor about in vitro fertilization. They did this for six years. There was one point where my mom did get pregnant, however she unfortunately lost it not long after. Fortunately, on the sixth try, my mom was pregnant with my brother and I. She has always told us that we are the best thing that has ever happened to her, and I do not know what I would do without my mom and dad. They are the best role models I could ever look up to.
Instead of rushing to the destination, good things will always come to those who patiently embrace the journey.
Life is full of challenges that test us in many ways. Whether it’s with friends, family, a tough situation at work, or something unexpected, facing these obstacles is important for our growth and success. Part of facing obstacles is persevering through them even when things are hard or take longer than expected. We are taught to keep going and build resilience, which helps us deal with the tough times. Every time we get through a challenge, we grow stronger and more confident, making it easier to handle whatever comes next.
Facing obstacles also teaches us important lessons. It pushes us to think outside the box and come up with new solutions, which can lead to big breakthroughs. When we overcome a challenge, we learn more about what we can do and where we need to improve. Every time I face a challenge, I feel stuck and often think on the negative side of things. I usually think things won’t get better, but then I tell myself that thinking negatively is what makes the challenges worse.
Perseverance is often what separates success from failure. By not giving up, failures can turn into learning experiences that prepare you for your next challenge. In short, obstacles aren’t just problems; they’re opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed. By facing challenges and not giving up, we become stronger and wiser. When things get tough, perseverance is the best thing you can do. Keep moving forward, and the effort will pay off in the end.
I agree with this 100%. Times do tough and we do run into obstacles. There are sometimes where we want to give up but don’t and we push through it. But we have to always remember these things happen because they are meant to teach us lessons and help us grow. They are meant to push us to do new things that we may be out of our comfort zones! You put this into a great choice of words!
Nina D.
I always had the belief that hard work is one of the major keys to success. Growing up, my parents ingrained the idea into my head that dedication and resolution would eventually lead to me achieving my goals. I worked hard throughout high school, jobs, and relationships convincing myself that if I pushed myself enough, success and high results were sure to come. This belief has guided me through countless challenges, like when I took a gap year after graduation to focus on myself, and has been a driving force behind my performance in life and in my own self-confidence.
A prime example of this is that I’ve been working since the moment I turned fourteen. Now nineteen, hard work is just a normal part of life. Getting up in the early morning and working long shifts taught me that real life after school is not going to be easy and you need to persevere through it even when it gets intense. I remember at my current job when I first started, I didn’t exactly know how to do my job as it was my first time in that job title. Not knowing anyone at the same time, I was nervous just going to work in fear that I would mess something up. After some time, I realized, at the end of the day, this is a job, I need to try. Ask questions when you’re confused, help others if they need help, don’t just stand around doing nothing. Even when I had no idea what I was doing I would persevere through it. And now, after working there for almost a year, I am one of their best employees, all because of hard work and dedication.
Hard work and dedication pays off.. or at least it should, right? I have spent my entire life under the notion that success and fame are bestowed upon those who demonstrate their worth. Everyone enters this world hoping to become successful one day, but is it really dependent on their work ethic? Are there other factors that determine one’s direction?
Over the course of my life, I never really took school that seriously. When I was younger, I failed to see the purpose in completing an endless stream of assignments. If anything, I saw it as a massive wall that stopped me from doing what I enjoyed, but that’s just how every kid saw school. Once high school rolled around, I noticed other students around me kick it up a notch, as the path for their future began to solidify. For me, I never had that spark of realization. Nearing the end of high school, I began to regret my choices. Seeing my peers get accepted to Ivy League schools means that they are bound to become successful.. right? Does diligence necessarily guarantee a fulfilled future? This idea stuck with me, and got me thinking. What truly contributes to one’s success?
Dedication and hard work are regarded seriously when it comes to my community. Everybody is striving to become the best version of themselves, and that sometimes requires making some sacrifices and tough choices. It’s important for us to recognize the effects of our effort, because our futures entirely depends on it. In the end, what truly distinguishes ourselves from the ones around us?
Your essay is very well written and contemplative. I think it’s an interesting way to look at the individualistic differences each person has in their path to succeed.
For my blog post I chose to write about an obstacle I had to overcome this year. It was a quick decision but not anything unexpected. In early July I had brain surgery to implant a device called the RNS, the RNS system is a treatment for adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Your doctor personalizes it to respond to your brain activity, delivering the treatment you need, when you need it. Me and my family didn’t have much time to prepare for the surgery, we had talked to many doctors about it thinking we would have a good amount of time to mentally prepare for the RNS surgery. When we were discussing whether we thought it would be a good idea for me to follow through with it, one of my nurses told us to make an appointment because they book far in advance. We contacted their office to book a date for surgery, despite uncertainty, as my nurse advised us to cancel if we’re not comfortable with it. The receptionist offered a scheduled appointment for July 2nd or October, but October was unavailable due to future events. I chose to remain calm and stress-free before the surgery, despite the stress and questions from my family. They felt comfortable meeting with the surgeon and his team in person, as it allowed me to follow through with the procedure. From that appointment we finalized the decision to have the surgery.
Fast forward to July 2nd, the day of the surgery, there were a lot of emotions going on between me and my family. Before the surgery there was a significant increase in fear, sadness, and anxiety, which went away after the procedure. The implant wouldn’t be fully setup for about a year because they have to program it to my brain and fully understand when the seizures are coming . After the surgery I started recovery in the hospital for 2 days then 2 weeks on bed rest from home. I was able to do more after the 2 weeks were up. I slowly gained strength back as time went on and was able to do more activities and not be stuck inside the house. I went back to my regular routine. Choosing to do this surgery could have been the best decision I’ve made, or it could have been for nothing and the obstacle of not knowing which one is going to happen is nerve-racking. My obstacle was overcoming fear of not knowing what it could lead to. Would you have done this knowing you wouldn’t know the results for a year?
I believe that you always need to believe in yourself even when times are tough and you feel like you can’t. Sometimes you have to persevere through obstacles that you feel like you can’t get through. You always should put your mind to something that you want to accomplish even if you fail. If you fail that’s okay you just need to get back up again and try. You don’t need to try right away but you will need to try again at some point, because if you fail and not try again you will never know if you could achieve that goal. I experienced a time like this during my senior year where I wanted to stop trying when school got hard, but I put my head to it and pushed myself to become better at what I was learning. I kept on telling myself this is for my future and that I had to keep on trying. That helped me a lot. I may not be the best at some things, but I can always say I tried. I want to push myself to do my absolute best in everything I do in college. I will take what I learned throughout my life and use it to help guide me through nursing school. When times are rough I will not give up, but I will try harder. I want to be my best self. I want to succeed greatly in life. But most importantly I want to believe in myself more when school gets hard. I want to never not believe in myself because I know that I am capable of anything I put my mind to. I will dedicate my next 4 years to school and studying so I can have a lifetime of happiness.
This was very well written and thought out. I agree with this because failure is a frequent part of life and the only way to make progress is to keep trying. I will also be majoring in nursing so learning how to persevere when the going gets tough is essential. Also persevering through failures is a skill that will be used through everyone’s life so it’s best to learn it as soon as possible. This was a very good topic and post!
Travis W.
When in the mention of beliefs people tend to think in the realm of spiritual, moral, and political views; chalking it up to certain categorized hopes that are shared between many others and that tend to stay solid throughout our lives. Still, people go through every day reliving a cycle and can only cling to said beliefs hoping for something to improve or just come naturally. I don’t believe this is how the world works. In order to see change you need to actively challenge your ideals, making wrong or right decisions, and going through trial and error to advance yourself. This realization is fairly new to me and made me question myself about what I want for my family, friends, and for the communities I am a part of or will become a part of. An illustration of this I can currently think of is just the enrollment of myself at UMass Dartmouth for Computer Science since in order to have what I want, I need to work for it. When in the application process I grasped that this isn’t like an upgraded high school but my career and I need to not only work towards a letter grade, I need to shape my future. I can’t just get by in class, but I need to accel and make my own opportunities for those around me. Finally it felt like I had started my role in something bigger and I needed to change. Since then I feel like I have and will continue to challenge my beliefs for not just myself, but for a community that can’t have me just sitting around.
Every Thing we do must be paid for. What i mean by that is that we must work for everything we gain whether by getting earings like money or by gaining something like fame or an achievement. This is the reason we work or got school so we might achieve something that is worth gain.
Through this there are road blocks or obstacles which keep us from gaining this thing or achievement. For me this was my Oma (grandmother) dying it set me back as she was always there for me she pushed me through her love to achieve things to gain that which lyes before us. I felt like a bridge to the other side fell when my Oma died but she would have wanted me to rebuild the bridge better and to push on. Like me many other deal with a loss but through this those who we love will help us push through those obstacles and persevere to the goal.My Oma through everything she dealt with wanted the end goal of graduation from high school. Though she was not able to physically see it her teachings of perseverence through obstacles pushed me to the goal.
Hard work and perseverance is what pays for the goals or earning we want and with out this and the conquering of obstacles everything in life is unattainable as s everything has a price and hard work with perseverance is the payment for these achievements. Hard work is the most valuable thing we posses it is the thing we are all born regardless were we were born or lived.
Growing up, most kids are taught that we have to be perfect whether that is in school, sports, health, looks, etc. Although we were taught that, as we grow up we start to recognize mistakes are okay as long as we learn and adapt. As a child/teenager, the mindset of being perfect forces us to carry a lot of weight on our shoulders that isn’t needed. Nobody is ideal, but we try to be the best we can. I remember coming home after bad football games and being mad at the world because I wasn’t the best or I felt as if my parents weren’t proud of me. Even in school when I came home with a bad test grade I just felt like a failure. Everything had to be perfect or else I wasn’t a good son, friend, teammate, classmate, or student. Looking back now I wish I could have told my younger self it is okay to struggle. Struggle is what makes the beast. How would you know how to solve a problem if you have never been in one? Now that I am aware of this, every time I get into a situation I make sure to relax, be patient, and find the best possible solution. For example, early in my senior season of high school, I injured my knee in a football game. Although I was mad, upset, and disappointed in the moment; I knew all I needed was time and I’d be right back on the field. After 2 weeks of treatment and physical therapy, I was right back on the field doing what I love. Moving on, I will always remember that setbacks are bound to happen, but we must take our time with the comeback. There is no better feeling than to overcome a battle.
When I was three years old, my parents separated and my father took my brother and I to Brazil. At that time I was just a child so I didn’t really know what was happening, I didn’t have a chance to choose whether I wanted to stay or go with my father. In Brazil we have an immense diversity of races, but we had one thing in common, everyone spoke Portuguese. It was hard to find someone who didn’t speak Portuguese, at least in the city where I grew up.
As time went by, I discovered something that everyone at some point in their life discovers, racism. However, it was different, I discovered racism through study, I was never a victim or saw anyone being victimized.
In 2022 I made a difficult decision, to return to the United States, abandon all my friends and go to a country that I didn’t even know the language to speak. After a while adapting, I started working, I was already fluent after 6 months of living here. Unfortunately, here I discovered a new type of racism, it wasn’t just reading and watching the news, it was around me. Because I’m Latin American, many people didn’t talk to me, or assumed I spoke Spanish. My first job was in a market, and in that market more than half of the people didn’t speak English. It’s incredible how much these people suffer from people who don’t understand that they are also human beings, just with a different culture.
It was a break from reality, leaving a place where the people are so united and arriving in a place where prejudice is huge. But I don’t let that get me down, in just two years living in the US I learned English, got promoted at my job and went to college to play football, a sport we don’t have in Brazil and I still fell in love with it. Little by little I’m showing everyone that it doesn’t matter where you come from, just how much you want to chase your dreams.
All it took was one week-one week in this new position to open my eyes to this reality. I had just started out as a swimming instructor, a job that had intrigued me for a while. Prior to teaching I believed that all my students would have some swimming ability and my job was to simply help them build off of what they already could do. This belief swiftly changed during my first week of shadowing an instructor. On my first day some students were terrified of the water, some burst into tears, and some had never been in a pool. One student named Henry had never been in the water before, according to his mother. When all my students started getting in the water, tears started to roll down his face and he grabbed onto me. I had to hold Henry for the majority of the class because any attempt he made to swim, he immediately sank. Henry was only one example that raised my astonishment at the lack of swimming ability among children.
After my first week I discerned how important water safety and basic swimming skills are. Prior to this job I believed basic water safety and swimming skills didn’t need to be taught, assuming everyone had those skills. Now my belief is the opposite, that every child and adult needs to be taught what to do or not do around bodies of water or a pool. Additionally everyone should be able to at least swim a small distance on their own and be able to stand up in water if they fall down. Even people that don’t swim often should have these abilities, because anyone can drown. However, everyone is able to learn how to swim. You need to think about how many tragedies we can prevent if we ensure everyone has basic swimming knowledge and ability.
I have sifted through many friend groups over the years. Some ended on bad terms, some drifted away, and few remained my best of friends. Since I graduated high school this past June, it has left me looking back over the years at all these relationships that have come and gone. There were many rough patches, and there were more rough moments than happy moments. After everything I have seen, experienced, and felt in my journey of growing up and finding my friends, a classic belief I honestly think is the most important for not only our generation to prioritize, but the entire world would be, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” The real struggle starts in middle school. It is especially difficult when you are not the most social person. It is not always someone new either, sometimes it is a rekindling connection.
Regardless of the origin of the friendship; nine times out of ten they are not a faithful friend. I have been through the cliche of being a doormat just to keep someone around. It is not a good feeling. constantly feeling beat down and like there is no scenario in your life without that person even though they treat you awfully. I struggled with this especially in middle school. It left me constantly sad. I felt like something was wrong with me. Fast forward six years later to today. I am much stronger and have grown for one reason or another. but the pain from those memories leaves a scar, so I say it again, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” I hope if anyone ever sees this when they are struggling at that component of life, they can realize their worth and keep that kind of energy clear from their life.
Dear Little Me,
You’re sweet and innocent, unknowing of everything you’ll discover as you age and mature. You view the world and all of the perfect little strangers in it through rose-colored glasses. You’ve always been taught to do unto others. That you treat people the way you want to be treated.
As you learn and grow, you’ll notice that these beliefs and morals that have been instilled in you are going to differ in others. You’ll see people around you be cruel and exhibit all of the traits you had believed were only true in fairy tale villains crafted by the imagination.
You believe in the benefit of the doubt. Even though many people have shown you that they didn’t deserve it, that doesn’t mean no one does. Keep seeing the glass half full, and never change who you are because of the cruelty of others.
Despite the fact that some people are cruel and unkind, it is not a vast majority. You’ll see that your kindness will attract others of a similar nature.
You’ll realize that holding steadfast to your morality, ideals, and beliefs will help you to advance through trying times and also aid others to progress through challenges.
Some people will want to take advantage, but most will appreciate your efforts to act as a ray of sunshine for those around you.
Continue to stay true to yourself, and always remember to not only make others smile, but to smile for yourself.
This perspective of a hand written letter to a younger self is super interesting and I feel you used it well in order to simplify the complex concepts of morality and differing values into a more palatable message.
I like the more causal and simplified language, its clear that there was much thought put into your word choice, as a younger you would need simpler sentence structures in order to keep up.
Good hook to begin with, immediately gets the reader interested in the further information contained within the letter, and great cyclical ending that reminds the younger self to continue being sweet and innocent but also maintain a higher level of awareness to keep thyself well cared for.
Congrats on excellently written blog post!
I was always told to enjoy life because it was too short, especially during high school. I overlooked it because I was young and thought I had all the time in the world to do that. It wasn’t until I developed my eating disorder that I realized just how short life was. When all you think about is food, you lose track of time. Slowly, days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months and years. Overcoming an eating disorder was an immensely challenging and transformative journey that completely changed my outlook on life. Having struggled for a long time, I experienced firsthand the debilitating effects it had on both my physical and mental well-being.
The experience of overcoming an eating disorder taught me the value of resilience and self-compassion. It made me realize the destructive power of negative self-perception and the importance of seeking help and opening up about my struggles. This journey also reshaped my perspective on life, fostering a deep sense of gratitude and empathy. It taught me to appreciate life’s little joys and prioritize self-care and mental well-being. I realized there was so much more to life than what I looked or how people perceived me, and indeed, just how short life was. I realized how little of my life I had lived when I was sick and how much of myself I had lost in the process. Since recovering, I have prioritized living a life I enjoy and taking the time to slow down and live more in the moment. I can’t undo how much time was taken from me by my eating disorder, but I can make sure to live life to the fullest to make up for it now.
Chloe, I really resonate with your ideas on how hardship and mental health affect our perceptions of time and the desire to reclaim the time we still have.
Carl C.
I always thought that a person with motivation but no discipline is a fool. Motivation helps you start but discipline makes you achieve. It is vital to success in almost all areas of life from that which ensures personal development, or educational achievement and ultimately career progression It is discipline that helps people through procrastination, remain focused, and weather the storm during difficult times.
Discipline can go a long way in helping you manage your time and your resources properly. A disciplined individual who has set clear goals and planned the way to reach them will be able to remain focused on these objectives, prioritising his activities in order not to waste any time with unproductive actions. Which in fact results in better productivity and efficiency enabling them to do more with less.
Discipline is an essential quality that will enable people to meet obstacles, realise achievements and live life. This means being clear about what you want, not giving into instant gratification and continually striving to reach those goals. It is through discipline people get the skills of self-discipline, persistence and endurance which are often required to be well successful in life. Discipline is often viewed as boring and annoying , but it actually results in more freedom and autonomy because people are forced to rely less on others for support to make their dreams come true. To make a long story short, we have seen that discipline is the magnifying and polishing glass for people to reach their limitless potential in what they do with heartless fulfilment. Do you think you are disciplined enough?
I believe traveling the world is good because it lets you get a perspective of other people’s lives/cultures. Dealing with new places and customs helps you get better at solving problems and handling challenges. Each trip teaches you to adapt and be more resourceful, making you more open-minded and understanding.
My experience in Cartagena, Colombia, the touristy side, you can see colorful painted buildings, gorgeous views, nice balconies with gardens, beautiful beaches and lots of dancing. On the local community side there are many poor people, there is a lack of water, no jobs, very unsanitary conditions and people are suffering. This difference makes some question whether tourism genuinely helps all local communities or not.
Another experience was when I went to Japan, I had to learn the difficult train system and all other modes of transportation which was very challenging, learning the money conversion was hard enough and the language barrier was another problem I had, so it taught me to adapt to the environment and circumstances I had to face.
Exposure to new environments and ways of life often pushes you out of your comfort zone. This can lead to personal growth, increased adaptability, and a broader worldview. Navigating unfamiliar places and dealing with different customs can enhance your problem-solving skills and resilience, each new experience requires adaptability and resourcefulness.
What trips have you been on and what problems did you face during your stay in said place?
I completely agree that travel improves every aspect of one’s mind and life. As a first-gen American-Brazilian, traveling to my mom’s home country exposed me to many points of view I never would have seen in my small, backcountry town. Through my childhood experiences, I understand how my incorrect cultural assumptions can help me expand the way I perceive the world—both the good and the bad.
One time, when I was coming back from visiting my family in Brazil, I was stopped at the border in São Paulo. I was traveling with just my mom for the second time in my life, and we were told to present the document signed by my dad granting her permission to travel with me. In Brazil, a dual-citizenship child under 17 cannot travel with only one parent without permission from the other. My mom and I were directed to the office of the airport police, where we waited for my dad to answer his phone (at four AM), arrive at the Brazilian Embassy in Boston (two hours away from our house), sign the document (after waiting in a very long line), and transfer it internationally to the airport police (by email, thankfully). Two years ago, when I first traveled with only my mom, I didn’t need this document; this time, I was barred from leaving Brazil because of my lack of it.
It was definitely an adventure, being stopped at the border for something we didn’t previously need. As we were waiting, I asked my mom why it was so important to have this document signed. She wouldn’t answer me, not until we left the office, documents in hand. When she did, she gestured through the glass walls at a woman and a six-year-old girl that had been standing directly next to us, arguing with the police about the same document. “That girl isn’t her daughter,” my mom said in English. Then I understood why that document was such a big deal.
Be it a complicated train system or international laws, each country and culture has its different behaviors and values. The first step to making a positive impact is through empathizing with those who are impacted by the unsavory aspects of it—even if it means getting wildly out of our comfort zones!
In this modern era, technology has significantly developed over the past few decades, along with many new forms of entertainment ranging from various video games, game consoles, online videos, virtual reality, and many more. Due to the many choices people have, it becomes quite an obstacle when thinking about what to do in their free time or with others regarding relaxation and entertainment. Thinking about what to do has always been an intriguing part of my day, whether I should eat, where I should go, how I should plan my future, or what I should write this blog on. Planning these things out ahead can help me feel more fulfilled than if I try to think of something on the spot and end up not doing much for the whole day. A great example of this is when I hang out with my friends; We’ll often group chat or get in group calls with each other either a few days before or on the day we want to hang on. Usually, one of two scenarios will happen: someone has a plan everyone can roll with, and another is nobody has any plans. Still, we all decided to hang out anyway. In the first scenario, our group can get through the day doing what we planned and adjust anything while hanging out. In the ladder scenario, our group will do nothing much and use our phones most of the day. This is why I believe that planning things out is always important. Even if you don’t end up going through with your original plan, having a plan is better than not having a plan.
I totally agree. With so many entertainment choices now, having a plan can really help make the most of your free time. Without a plan, it’s easy to end up wasting time or doing nothing much. Even if plans change, having something to start with makes things more enjoyable.
When I was 11 years old and sitting in my 5th grade gym class, every day I’d have the worst headache I’ve ever had, getting worse and worse by the week. Finally I convinced my Mom to schedule a MRI for me. After the MRI I had to go to update medical in Syracuse New York. They told me I had a cyst pushing against my brain and pushing my brain against my skull. They scheduled me for brain surgery. After the surgery I was able to persevere and get home the next day and be home for easter. I had to miss out on my entire lacrosse season that year and when I went back to my doctor they told me I may never be able to play sports again, football my favorite one I was told I’d never play agin. I worked making sure I would recover correctly and be able to compete in August for my 6th grade season.
I worked for it, and when I went back up for my 5 month check up they gave me the go head to play again, it was the best feeling I could ever feel knowing I would be able to play the game I love and still love, now im here about to enter college and continue playing the game I love. From being told ill never play again to being able to play in college I think I beat the challenge God put in front of me
I believe that if you are persistent, you can do anything you set your mind to. This belief became central to my mindset going into my senior year of high school. Growing up, math had never been a daunting subject for me—test scores came easily, and I rarely struggled. That is, until my senior year when I decided to challenge myself by taking a statistics course. Even though the class was mostly logic and theory rather than formulas, I still figured it would be a good way to push myself out of my comfort zone.
When I took my first test, I was confident. I thought that my usual approach to math would secure me a good grade; it did not. My score was much lower than I had hoped, but instead of letting that discourage me, I decided to change my approach. I started spending time after school with my teacher, watching online tutorials and reviewing textbook materials. After months of mediocre test results, I finally scored a 95 on a test. That moment reaffirmed that not only had my persistence paid off, but the course content which once seemed impossible to understand, was something that I could learn.
Perseverance is an essential skill to learn because life is going to be full of disappointments, bad days, and unexpected setbacks. College, for example, will challenge us to grow mentally, academically, and emotionally. Being perseverant despite the struggles of this new environment will help us overcome obstacles and remind us that success often comes after multiple attempts.
Let’s embrace the challenge and stay persistent, so we keep moving forward.
I spent years trapped in the Kingdom of Normal. Oppressed by expectation, fearing lying futures… I wanted to give up—to wade into the flowing, far-off ocean, only to be unable to escape its ebb. I nearly did, once; I scaled the Kingdom’s wall and tipped into the whitecaps.
Then, I encountered a paradox: I wanted to sink (and I did), but I didn’t want to drown. With my feet impossibly rooted to the shifting sand of the seafloor, I found a spark inside me that refused to be doused in saltwater; I remembered my light and love for life.
I separated oxygen from hydrogen to breathe through the pressure of that new reality. Though I wanted to close my eyes on my abnormal existence forever, they adjusted to the darkness, and I saw the path before me; I wiggled my feet out of the undertow and walked away from Normal. I wanted depths and found them (and later discovered there exist deeper trenches).
I cannot know what lies ahead, but I journey through impossibility to confidently be who I am: inquisitive, understanding, outspoken, thoughtful, humble, and proud. I am a walking juxtaposition of existence, reveling in my every facet.
When I find myself breaching the surface and crossing continents, I remember: I have learned to walk through tides and I will learn to walk through tempests. I believe in myself, in being who I am, despite what the Kingdom of Normal expects me to be.
When I was younger, I took on a lot of challenges by myself, thinking that was the best way to do it. I used to believe that I would have to do stuff all on my own and that asking for help from my family, friends, or teachers was a weakness. I got to high school and realized that I did need help. It started in freshman year when I decided to step out of my comfort zone and take an Astronomy class. I was really into space then (I still am if I’m being honest) so I thought it would be fun to take. The class started and I realized how challenging the class actually was for me. I was too embarrassed to tell anybody that I was struggling, so I just kept pushing on. I just didn’t want people to think that I was stupid and weak for asking for help. As time went on, my mom could tell that something was up, so she asked me many times if I was having a hard time in the class. Once I admitted it to her, I felt SO terrible, stupid, and embarrassed. She reassured me that it’s ok to ask and accept help. Ever since then, I’ve felt so much better when it comes to asking and accepting help. I’ll admit it, I had a little trouble at first accepting help. Now I believe that having other people help me is a positive thing, not a weakness. Now, coming into a new situation and environment, I have to seriously think about if I’m going to go back to my old ways or not. I think that not only me, but others coming into Umass Dartmouth should not be afraid to ask for help. I’ve learned that sometimes when you ask a question in front of a group, that someone else there actually has the same question, but is too afraid to ask it. I spent a lot of time in my early life waiting for someone else to ask the question. Now, I’m the person who asks the question even if I know the answer, because someone else might be confused and scared to ask it. If it weren’t for my mom pushing me to ask for help more, I would still be stuck in my old ways sitting in confusion. I like to think that sometimes others around you see things about you that you don’t see. Even right now writing this blog, I’m asking for some help. I wasn’t really sure what direction I wanted to go with it, but I didn’t let myself just stay there. My mom and I bounced ideas off of each other and then I took off writing. Having other people around you that support you is an amazing part of life.
The last thing I want to leave you with is this:
Have you ever been in a situation where you were scared to ask a question in front of a group, due to judgment?
Being the youngest of three successful siblings had its ups and downs. I enjoyed being the baby of the family and being spoiled. But as I got older, things changed. My parents would often compare me to my siblings. And pressure me to be the best in everything just like they were. I wasn’t too interested in playing sports before high school. All of my siblings played sports. So I knew that once high school started I had to. When I started playing volleyball I began to enjoy it more than I thought. It was the perfect distraction that I needed from the world. I overheard some coaches comparing me to my older sisters. They would say “Her sister never did that” or “Her sister was much better at that”. Ultimately, I began to lose my confidence. Volleyball was becoming my escape and hearing that made me want to stop playing altogether.
Although, my freshman year and sophomore year were great. In my junior year, I tried out for varsity. I thought this was the year that I’d finally make the team considering that I’ve been putting the work in. Unfortunately, I was placed back on the junior varsity team for the second time. My heart was broken, and I felt like I was hitting rock bottom. I didn’t know how to express myself, so I just shut down. I avoided going to practice, and when I did go I never spoke. I was so embarrassed and upset at myself. Why did others make it and I didn’t? I was better than them, I thought to myself. I thought I was doing all the right things. When my sisters asked if I made the team, I couldn’t even get the words out. If I was disappointed in myself, I couldn’t imagine how they would feel hearing the news. I felt that no matter how hard I tried, I always ended up alone and drowning in my thoughts. Even though I was in such a dark place, deep down I wanted to prove myself and others wrong. When my senior year came along, I was constantly practicing. I joined an off-season team and worked on new skills. I knew that if I didn’t make the team this year, I would end up where I was the year before.
Even though it would be my last year playing volleyball, I wanted to give it another try. When it came time for tryouts, I put my best foot forward. Three days later, I crossed my fingers as I opened an email stating I made the team. I was more than excited and so ready to get in the gym and start practicing. Our first couple of games were great, and we had a continuous winning streak. The confidence that I once lost was all coming back thanks to the friends that I made along the way. And the support that I’ve never felt from my siblings. I was happy again. This experience showed me that hitting rock bottom was one of the greatest gifts that I could ever receive. It taught me that perseverance involves determination and the willingness to continue striving toward a goal despite the challenges. It let me be open to change and helped me gain an appreciation for life in ways that I never thought I would.
Going through life I always believed you get what you deserve whether that be karma, hard work, or good fortune. I was taught that if you work hard enough for something, you will get it. If I put the hours and the work in I would be successful in what I wanted. I always loved basketball and worked really hard to be good while maybe wanting to play in college. As time went by I got some Division 3 offers but none stuck out to me so decided to stay close to home and come here for college. My love faded, after playing in college being my main goal all of a sudden something changed. After winning 3 playoff games in a row last season, my team and I went to Umass Boston to play the back to back MIAA division 2 champs, Malden catholic. In the final four, we came out slow but ended up playing hard against a team much bigger and honestly better. They got foul call after foul call but we persevered the whole game. We out hustled them and wanted it more as the game progressed until we find ourselves down 2 points coming out of a timeout with 2 seconds left and our ball in the half court. They knew our originally play so we went a different route, set a screen for me and I make something happen. I come off the screen catch the ball behind the 3 point line, I fake a shot then shoot it as time runs out. I missed the shot, when going up I had 3 defenders on me and all of which had hit me while shooting. I should’ve gotten fouled, I should’ve gotten to shoot free throws, I should’ve won the game for my team. I was so proud to be there captain and to get to play with them and I wanted to win the state championship for everyone around me. That is when I knew that not everything is fair and you don’t always get what you deserve. For a long time the “what if” haunted me and was all I could think about. It was the hardest thing I had to deal with but also ended up being the best thing for me. This obstacle led me to see how putting my future in someone else’s hands isn’t going to work out. If I want to be successful I cannot allow my family, friends, or in this case some referees dictate how my life goes. I need to go out and live my life to the best of my ability and leave nothing up for chance. I will not judge myself or others by where we are standing, but by how far we have come from where we have started our journey to be great.
My name is Morgan P, and I was surprised when I came to believe that perseverance is not just about pushing through, but about finding strategies that work for me, especially when living with ADHD.
Growing up with ADHD I often saw perseverance as a constant push to overcome a certain obstacle, a relentless push against any challenges. This view was instilled in me through the TV shows and stories I read as a kid, but when it came to my own experiences it didn’t feel like it fit. I struggled academically, feeling frustrated and defeated when my efforts didn’t yield the same results as my classmates around me.
The turning point came during a particularly grueling essay in high school. Despite how much work I tried to put into it my ADHD made it incredibly difficult to stay focused and organized. At first, I tried to persevere by doubling down and forcing myself to just get it done, but the more I pushed the more overwhelmed I felt.
It was only after having a conversation with my mother about how I was struggling that my perspective began to shift. She told me not to try to do it all at once and to instead break it into smaller chunks and incorporate short breaks. The methods that she told me to use didn’t just help me complete the project they transformed my understanding of perseverance. I realized that perseverance wasn’t about enduring my difficulties the same way as others, but it was adapting and figuring out what worked best for me.
This belief matters to our UMassD community because it encourages a more inclusive and understanding approach to challenges. Recognizing that perseverance can be personalized creates an environment where students with ADHD and other learning differences are supported in their journeys.
If Perseverance is about adapting to what works best for each individual, how can we better support each other in finding our paths to success?
Michaela F
A belief that has changed while on my growth journey is that “life is what you make it.” People often question life itself and the most common question would be “Why does it have to be me? Or why this always happens to me?” So often it’s always this comment “My life is a joke” or something similar and worse than this. In the meantime, while all these questions remained unanswered and while these comments become more popular, we never seem to care enough to align our life to these questions and the comments, as for what is missing and why am I questioning life? Is my life going in the direction I want it to? Do I apply principles to my life properly the main focus should be how can I make life worthy of something by aligning principles and consistency and how to make the most out of life. Furthermore, I believe in “life is what you make it” in my junior year in high school. I had to move to another city where I knew no one, changed school, and adapt to a new lifestyle. I thought it was going to be hard in my head because it wasn’t only a new city, but also a new neighborhood, new people, and overall a new environment but, I started to adapt to this life, made friends, made new connections. To continue, I didn’t get scared or shout at the world or even question life because at a time in life, everything felt so quiet, I was lonely but made something good of that loneliness. I created a new life with great memories. Once again I made life worthy to keep going.
Your life is miserable or do you just lack principle?
Cooper B.
Overcoming obstacles and challenges can be difficult but it can be done. It all starts with having the right mindset and telling yourself that you can do anything you put your mind to. When I was younger, I would often find myself giving up on something whenever it became too difficult. I would tell myself I can’t do it or its too difficult and just give up. I started to realize this needed to change because I was going to inevitably encounter tough challenges and obstacles in my life that I would have to find a way to get through. I started by changing my mindset and telling myself I can do anything I put my mind to. I started to persevere whenever I was faced with tough challenges and obstacles. Tough challenges in my life have ranged from things like facing difficult tests that I needed to pass to overcoming my fear of learning how to drive. While overcoming these obstacles was still not easy; by changing my mindset I was able to conquer them and not be afraid of them. Overcoming these obstacles in my life has made me realize that nothing is impossible and if you want to do something you should do it. You shouldn’t shy away from your goals in life just because they are tough to accomplish because if you dig down deep you can reach your goals. Some obstacles are tougher to overcome than others and will take more time to overcome but no matter how hard they are to overcome it can be done. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something because anything is possible.
Sixteen years old, failing classes, sleeping through lectures and riding the bench. I found myself feeling pitiful and stagnant in the prime of my teenage years, bounded by the shackles of an “I canʻt” frame of mind. I was my own greatest enemy, preventing myself from succeeding, entirely because I did not believe I was capable. I began to learn that my unpleasant mentality and restricting thought process were not caused by my idle lifestyle, but instead that my troubling times were a product of my lack of self-assurance. Put simply, I did not accomplish anything because I told myself I couldnʻt.
Now, eighteen years old, two-time captain of three varsity sports, top ten high school hurdler in Massachusetts, graduated, and admitted into the pre-law program at UMass Dartmouth. The most significant change between these two periods: the way I talk to myself. I have evolved my perspective and personal philosophies in order to support myself. I have found no greater motivator than the encouragement I gain from telling myself “I can”. By believing in myself I was able to become the person I wanted to be, I accomplished what i never thought was possible, and I changed the way I take on life. Heading into my first semester of college I will continue to be my own biggest cheerleader, and I encourage my peers to do the same.
One belief or saying that I have come to question is that hard work pays off. What made me think of this is my experience in work and life. Hard work is what you have to put into your work in life through perseverance and determination to reach your goal. One event that can be pinpointed in my belief would be when I would work hard in my job It stays the same every day, but some people do the same job for much less. My hard work pays off because I can be assured that I am doing a great job at work and will one day move up to be a supervisor in a few years. I think this can be important to students, teachers, and everyone alike who put in much energy every day to help others and their community with learning or living but do not get the recognition they deserve from their peers or their higher-ups in the company. Others should listen to my belief even if others do not agree because you could be in this person’s shoes one day and would want to understand what to do or say if someone is questioning if hard work pays off in the end. In the end, I believe that if you set your mind to something and keep preserving anything can be achieved but you need to remember that changes don’t happen overnight, and you need to create the change.
For most of my life, I believed that everything happens for a reason. I believed that what happens to you in your life will only develop you as an individual. I have always strived to look at the bigger picture when bad things happen and tried to tell myself that the bad experience will only help me grow as a person. However, this belief changed during the fall of my senior year in high school. During the 4th game in my varsity football season, I was chasing the opposing team’s quarterback during a play. I planted my left foot into the turf to make the tackle. While doing this my cleat got caught in the turf and I heard a pop in my knee. At first, I thought I had just badly buckled my knee. I later found out that I completely tore my ACL. Little did I know that this was the last time I would ever play the game of football.
Not being able to play football was hard for me. For the past three years, I had lived and breathed the game of football. Whether it was going to practice, watching film, or lifting weights every day after school with the team. I always wanted to play football since I was young. I was extremely disappointed in my freshman year when I did not make the team due to covid restrictions and the varsity team was the only team allowed to compete. From the second I started playing my sophomore year, I fell in love with the sport and wanted to be on the varsity team. At this point in time, I was extremely out of shape, mainly due to Quarantine. In my first offseason, I decided to hit the weightroom with the football team. I worked hard and showed up to weightroom every day. In my Junior year, I was selected as the starting Center and Defensive end on the varsity team. I had an ok season, but missed some games due to catching Covid. That offseason, I continued my focus on hitting the gym daily and working hard. I even joined winter and spring track, where I was able to participate in a decathlon.
In my senior year, I was selected as the starting Left Guard and Middle Linebacker. I was also selected as a Team Captain. I was in the best shape of my life. I truly felt unstoppable. When I got hurt, it seemed that everything that I had worked for in the last couple years was gone in an instant. I kept on asking myself “Why Me”? I always thought that everything happened for a reason, but I started questioning this belief. What could I possible gain from this experience? Between the surgery and the constant rehab, this was one of the hardest things I have ever had to overcome. Through my experiences in rehab, I was able to reflect on my experiences and learned that hard work is necessary to succeed in life. Nothing in life comes easy, and we need to continue to learn and grow from our experiences as individuals. I learned that hard work, remaining positive and being determined to achieve a goal can help you overcome any obstacle. Although you might not see it now, everything does happen for a reason. Each experience, good or bad serves as a valuable lesson about life and about ourselves.
I believe that the fastest way to get through an obstacle is through unity. Unity is by far one of the easiest ways to overcome an obstacle.
Back in High School, I used to absolutely hate group projects because I’d have to rely on someone else to do their work so I could get a good grade. Most of the time I would’ve done way better without having someone else taking part of what grade I’d get for my assignment. Recently, this belief has been altered after I participated in a project at my job where we had to create a mural. Working on this mural was difficult to do when my coworkers just stopped working on it, leading me to feel demotivated to complete it. But after a few weeks everyone had decided to do their job and work on the mural, which had led us to finishing the mural 3 weeks before the showcase. Another reason my belief has been altered is during the whole college process. My mom and sister were great at assisting me in figuring out what major I’d want and if the major fit with me the best.
Unity is important to everyone because that’s how society pushes onward efficiently. Unity is how people form together and become friends, and also how families are able to stick with each other. You can still overcome an obstacle by yourself and persevere on your own but unity, with the right people, can make overcoming an obstacle a lot easier.
Alexis H –
You are enough. These three small words are what have changed my view on the world. There have been a series of events over the past few years that have caused self doubt and judgment, from those around me. I have changed high schools three times, changed dance studios after 13 years, was abandoned by my father, and saw my mother and grandmother go through cancer. These life events happen to everybody, but not usually at the same time.
With all the changes, I had to fear having to prove myself to those around me. New environment, new faces, new morals, and I knew I had to make a good impression. A lot of people stepped up for me, but a lot of people let me down. I felt lost because everything was changing, and nothing remained a constant in my life. I like to believe I got through this because I’m a strong person, but there was really a moment where I knew I had to keep going. I eventually got through the storm and made new relationships that are lifelong. I started to find my new path, and gain the confidence that I AM ENOUGH. My message isn’t a new one. We all need to remember that we are worthy, and we are enough, no matter what we face. What have you done to help individuals in society know that they are enough? Promoting these three small words has been my mission. These words have the power to change someone’s outlook on themselves and the world. You are enough.
I firmly believe that perseverance is one of the most important traits for someone to possess. Throughout your life you will continuously face challenges you may not be able to solve immediately, and that’s okay. Perseverance isn’t being able to push through every challenge head-on, it is being knocked down and being to get up and try again. I had this experience during COVID-19, the full lock downs went into effect during my freshman year of high school and I was a fully remote student at the time. I know I can’t speak for everyone but for me that was the most I have ever struggled with school, a third of the way through the year I was completely overwhelmed and had practically given up, but I didn’t give up on school as a whole. I came to terms with the fact that I would have to put in the extra work to make up for what happened through the rest of my time in high school managed to bounce back. Everyone has some type of challenge that affects them in a way that they perhaps are not able to deal with at the time but what is important is the ability to get back up and try again. If you are struggling with something currently it is okay to admit that you can’t handle it right this second, what matters most is that you try again when you think that you are ready to.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”, read the comments of a TikTok post. The video showed a young girl expressing her jealousy over the lives of influencers and how badly she wished to live their life, a sentiment I myself could easily relate to. Opening the comment section I expected to see others expressing their agreement, but I was taken aback by this comment denouncing jealousy. While it is unlikely this comment came from a philosopher whose wisdom transcends generations, the words resonated with me nonetheless. However, as one does on TikTok, I scrolled on for far too long and these words were pushed to the back of my mind and not thought about for months.
In recent weeks these words have found their way to the forefront of my mind. While coping with my own anxiety I have found myself wishing to be struggling with any problem but my own. It was easier to hope to deal with the problems of someone else rather than actively cope with my own. However what I didn’t realize was that by comparing my problems to those of others I was only robbing myself of the joy I could find in what I did have and the support I had from those around me. It is impossible to solve one’s problems or cope with hardships while comparing oneself to others. Our problems can only be solved by being faced, not by being traded or compared with others, and as I’ve come to learn the comments of TikTok can occasionally provide the wisdom and guidance needed to appreciate what I have and solve any hardship.
I used to think that being successful academically was something you either have or didn’t. I began to wonder whether I wasn’t cut out for school after observing how easily most of my peers got through school while I found it difficult. I thought that no matter how hard I worked, I would never catch up. We found out I had ADHD and dyslexia just before I started middle school, but rather than being relieved, this just made me believe I would never be able to catch up to my friends. When I started middle school, I thought I would fail miserably, but meeting other students who were facing similar difficulties and succeeding began to shift my belief.
I started to understand after years of study and effort that academic achievement isn’t dependent on innate talent. It all comes down to tenacity, knowing the appropriate tactics, and having faith in your ability to get beyond the obstacles in your path. I was able to catch up because to the lessons I took each year in middle school, and I realized that my challenges actually helped me grow rather than define me.
This belief is significant to my community as a whole as well as to myself. All people have difficulties, but how we handle them defines who we are. It serves as a reminder that obstacles are surmountable and that, with the correct help and willpower, we are capable of achieving our objectives.
I’m not sure which category this best fits in so I’ll post it here. Losing a family member is a devastating experience for families. So when I lost both my father and grandmother within a few years of each other, everyone in the family was overwhelmed with grief. However, during this difficult time, l have come to understand the importance of resilience and the ability to carry on in these difficult times. I started going to therapy weekly in order to cope in a healthy way. having the option to do therapy on Zoom made it more accessible due to my busy schedule. Therapy shouldn’t be looked at as negative, it can be helpful in difficult times. I’ve come to the realization that life is not fair. The loss of my father and grandmother made me realize that life can be cruel and unpredictable. This realization has shown me ways to cope and come to terms with my loss. Experiencing loss was something that has inspired me to have a fulfilling life and make the most of the time I’m given. This belief that life is unfair and full of uncertainties is important not only for me, but also for upcoming students interacting with others who have gone through similar experiences. Recognizing that everyone encounters hardships, loss, and mental health issues can encourage empathy and resilience in our school community. Throughout high school, open communication and acceptance are encouraged. College should be similar, which is why it’s so important that mental health services and acceptance should be promoted not only at UMASS Dartmouth, these should be openly available/ recognized everywhere.
Thank you for sharing. Mental health services are available at UMass-Dartmouth through the counseling center, and we very much encourage students to make use of these services when they are needed. Here is a link with more info: https://www.umassd.edu/counseling/
As a child, I believed that the more nerdy or smart a person was, the less athletic that person could be. This led me to avoid getting involved in sports and instead I doubled down on my “nerdy” personality. My viewpoint changed when I watched my older sister get involved in sports during high school. Seeing her get involved in sports inspired me to do the same. During my junior year of high school my school joined a co-op wrestling team with a nearby school. Prior to this, I had never played a sport for any of my schools. I had always thought I was too unathletic and preferred to focus on my academics. The wrestling team being co-op meant that the practices and most of the team members would be from the other school. I saw this as the perfect opportunity to get involved in a sport without risking embarrassing myself if it turned out I was too unathletic to participate. With the support of my teammates and my family, I had the confidence to feel comfortable while wrestling. During my senior year, I joined the team again and saw significant improvement in my athleticism. Even though I wasn’t very good at the sport, trying it gave me the confidence to participate in other athletic activities. After my senior season of wrestling ended, I started playing baseball, volleyball, and other backyard sports with my friends that I would have previously avoided. It was wrestling that inspired me to have more diverse interests.
Its always a good thing to remember that the stereotypes that other people or even yourself apply to you don’t have to be true. Good for you breaking free of that. I agree that being more diverse as a person is very important to having a balanced life and you should always keep trying to find new interests.
I strongly believe everything happens for a reason. You are where you are on purpose. Something is happening to you on purpose. You are here in this life for a reason. Now we may never know the reason, or we may ponder on different scenarios and wonder IF something were to happen. We as humans try so hard to change situations and the outcomes that may happen, or may even produce a worse outcome than the one intended for us. We can’t ponder about all the different scenarios that MAY happen. I currently struggle with anxiety and overthink about many things every day. I am now learning that I shouldn’t worry so much, it will only waste my time, and make me suffer and worry more. Now when I am overthinking, I remind myself to take a breath, understand that this is happening for a reason, it will only make me stronger. I think well I lost that friend who wasn’t so great to me, months later I now feel great as a person. I don’t feel worried all the time that I would’ve gotten ignored or they would’ve started a problem. At first I was upset, mad that I had lost a friend who was there since fourth grade. But she left for a reason. It will better me in the long run. Or when I have a disagreement with my boyfriend, old me would’ve sat there for hours wondering why it had happened, why I acted that way. But now I remind myself, that happened for a reason, so we could communicate, understand each other’s opinions and values and become stronger. It’s not only important that I understand that. It’s important that others recognize that too. We would become a lot less stressed, a weight lifted off our shoulders. We might be able to sleep better at night, or have a better work or school day. I believe that situations happened because they were NEEDED for us to become stronger.
As I have gotten older, I have started to realize how easy it is for us humans to react and adapt to unexpected situations that come our way. Although we cannot know when these things may happen, when they do it feels like we are so quick to accept these sudden changes and overcome any inconveniences.
I know this is now an overused topic in modern writing assignments, but covid fits my observation perfectly. All of a sudden over seven billion people were facing a worldwide pandemic that quarantined families, closed down schools, and put many businesses on hold. In less than a year we were allowed back into grocery stores and us students could learn in a classroom again. We needed new regulations like masks and vaccines, but in a very fast timeline the world was back to being as normal as it could be, all thanks to us humans for overcoming an obstacle like that so quickly.
This skill that we have can definitely be useful during my college experience. College is a period of growth, and I know there will be many hurdles between now and the day that I get handed my diploma. But no matter what comes my way I know I will be able to get through it because I know this trait that all us humans share: adaptation. From things as simple as an assignment to a personal, life-changing situation, I am more than confident that I will get through it.
The moment my school announced that in-person classes would be suspended, everyone was celebrating. I was enamored with doing school at home and playing video games most of the time. All of my friends were in agreement as well. I thought of it as an extended summer vacation. The first week was now of the best, as all I did was go to online school and play video games. As time went on, I started to not take things seriously. I would skip classes and just do my own thing. At the time, I thought most of my friends did anyways; I might as well. I knew that it would be detrimental to my grades, but I was young and did not care. As the months passed, I ended up getting bad grades and even failing one class. This put my chances of passing for the year in jeopardy. I knew this would affect my future. I stated turning around and started studying to make up for it. I knew slacking off wouldn’t do anything for me. I turned around and started to get better in school.
What this ordeal taught me was perseverance and to prevail against all odds. This ordeal made me realize that hard work pays off.
Struggle is something that people go to great lengths to avoid. We find it inconvenient, annoying, distressing, painful, and even excruciating. Struggle however should not be viewed in this way. Of all the experiences in our lives, the ones that truly define us are the ones that present us with a challenge to struggle with and overcome. It is how we react to struggles that show our true character. For this reason, as much as we might want to, struggle should not be avoided. It is an opportunity to prove to ourselves and others who we are. One thing that I have dealt with my entire life is my OCD. Many things in my everyday life bother me like a bad ich that I can not scratch. There have been days in my past when I have been borderline non-functional due to the mundane things around me that for no apparent reason bothered me beyond reason. When it got bad I had two options, I could either succumb to it and resort to my obsessive compulsions to cope with it or I could work through it and come out better for having done so. If I had let my OCD take over I wouldn’t be going to college to become a physicist. I would have lost everything for momentary relief from something that would never go away. The struggle made me better and proved to myself that I could do difficult things. I still struggle with my OCD every day and for that, I am not upset I am grateful.
Thanks for sharing Nathan! For folks struggling with OCD and other mental health conditions, the Office of Student Accessibility on campus is available to help. Here is a link with more info: https://www.umassd.edu/accessibility/
Allyson L.
Depression has changed the way I view the world; what I mean by this is that depression has shaped the way I have experienced life. Being diagnosed and learning to manage the ups and downs of mental health at a young age brings you to the harsh reality that you may not live to reach the goals you have planned due to the thoughts going through your head.
Depression has taught me how to find comfort within the discomfort of my thoughts. Causing the desire to completely change yourself when unhappiness starts to challenge how you view yourself and who you are. Causing you to feel like you are caught in a vicious cycle of your thoughts. However, eventually, the spiral crashed and destroyed everything around you. Leaving you to see all you have missed in life. I had a negative view of the world for a long time and felt unhappy until something switched, and I could finally see the good in life. The discomfort I felt within my mind seemed to go away. Not entirely, but just enough so that I could enjoy life.
Depression has taught me to be patient and know that even though things are bad at the moment, it doesn’t mean they won’t change. The way I view the world will permanently be altered due to having a mental illness. I will never be able to change the way depression has caused me to view the world. Or change its consequences on my life and who I am.
I liked reading what you had to say and learning about your experience and how everyone struggles in different ways. I liked reading about how you explained how the discomfort went away, but not completely and how we adapt while overcoming different situations.
By far, perseverance is the most important ability in overcoming an obstacle. You can have excellent preparation or progress already in hand, but if you can’t continue to fight even in the most dire of situations it can all go awry.
You can guess what obstacles children and adolescents tend to face in their journey to adulthood: school exams, juggling relationships, learning how to drive, etc. While some people find certain obstacles more difficult than others, it’s almost a given that there isn’t going to be sufficient motivation to want to overcome these tasks. What option is left then? Pressing onwards despite this is sometimes all that we can do.
Obstacles that I’ve faced such as managing my time appropriately or needing to keep my grades up have only been challenges I could find motivation to complete long ago. I was aware of the consequences and how fixing these problems would be beneficial towards my future, but you can only think of that for so long before hope wears thin. It’s my perseverance that has kept me going throughout most of my life. As hoped for, the sheer dedication mustered regardless of the situation has been rewarding. Even with how dim things can seem, I succeeded in these tasks and even discovered a newfound drive to take on whatever is thrown at me.
For those who can’t find a reason to get out of bed or even bring themselves to do something as simple as write a blog in a timely manner, yet still move forward in life, there is a light at the end of the tunnel you’re on your way to find.
Something that made me question my belief in the past that I think is important to reflect on. Now that I am entering college, that is still helping me along through life involving some friends that I had on the track team with me in highschool.
I believed that if you constantly put the work in and try your best with everything you do, you can catch up or become better than you were aiming for.
However, when it came to some kids even though I put in the work they were already where I wanted to be. Therefore, over time I got stuck in a place where I had trouble improving. Then the key words my coach said to me was, “Have fun while doing it.” Another was, “Yeah people might start off better than you. But it’s thanks to that, you were able to develop with a better sense of hard work and determination.”.
Thanks to his words I was able to grow and get better. Then on the last team meet I was able to put my all and reach my goals. On that day I tripled jumped 40 feet, and also beat my teammate who was a goal for me for 2 years in hurdles.
This is what helped strengthen my belief, that if you work hard then you too can reach your goals and even surpass them. I also learned that along the way, make sure to not forget to have fun.
In conclusion, yeah some people may start off behind others but if you put in the work and strive for greater you can accomplish anything.
Something that made me wonder about the world is the belief that we must be unhappy to be successful. All my life I have always liked being creative,whether it is singing, dancing, writing or drawing. Anything art wise has always been a part of me, it always brings me happiness to form something beautiful with limited materials. Going into college I knew that I’d need to be creative with whatever profession I’d decide to go into. Marketing allows you to be creative while also making money. All companies need to direct their products to consumers. Consumers need to be introduced by marketing and advertising. Advertising allows you to be creative. Advertisements come in the form of billboards, posters, commercials, flyers, endorsements and more. I’m mostly excited to create commercials. You can let your mind run free to make money for a company and make money for yourself. You can still be yourself without breaking your soul and you can still be your authentic self. In this world, it is hard to do what you are genuinely passionate about. You can’t find the jobs of a professional singer, dancer, artist, songwriter on indeed. If it were that way many people would be out chasing their passion. I believe that you can find a little way to be yourself and make money out of it. You can turn your passion into a side hustle. It is possible to let your heart, mind and wallet thrive. It is possible to be your authentic self.
Carlos B
“How many times do you live?” This quote means a lot to me. Being afraid to do something is a common issue. Humans are social beings, so people tend to avoid things of embarrassment or potential judgment. I believe this shouldn’t be the case since life is short and with that fact, you should avoid regrets. It would suck to be 80 years old reminiscing on when you were young and saying I wish I did this or that. There’s plenty to do and try. It would be best if you didn’t worry about how others will think. If you like it and can see the enjoyment in it, don’t be afraid. It doesn’t even have to be something you enjoy, just curiosity alone shouldn’t be shut down because of the mind or word of somebody else. It’s your life! Besides judgment, people tend to question their capabilities with things. This leads them not to give things a try. For example, when learning an instrument: someone with a strong interest in the piano wouldn’t know it because it could take too long or they’ve never had any experience. This shouldn’t stop them since life is too short and they could have fun doing it. Even if they don’t, they should be content with the effort and the fact they even tried. It’s great to see what life has to offer. Be yourself and express curiosity. The world is huge and your capabilities are too. Don’t let others stop you from committing to things and getting out there.
Resilience and adaptability are two of a student’s most powerful traits. These qualities enable students to navigate the inevitable academic and personal challenges during their educational journey. By fostering a mindset that embraces change and learns from setbacks, students enhance their success and contribute to creating a more empathetic campus atmosphere.
Resilience and adaptability played a crucial role in helping me navigate the intense pressures I faced during my high school years. Juggling multiple clubs and leadership positions while taking the highest-level classes available and working my part-time job often left me feeling stretched too thin. On top of that, I was managing my mental health challenges, which only added to the stress. However, by developing resilience, I learned to bounce back from setbacks and persist through difficult times. Adaptability allowed me to adjust my strategies, priorities, and mindset when circumstances became overwhelming. These traits not only helped me maintain my high academic performance but also ensured that I could take care of my mental well-being while fulfilling my commitments.
On a college campus, like UMass Dartmouth, adaptability and resilience are essential tools for managing both academic and personal challenges. Academically, these traits enable students to cope with the stress and the constant demand to perform. Resilience allows students to recover from a poor grade or an overwhelming schedule, while adaptability helps them adjust study habits, time management, and priorities to better handle their responsibilities. On a personal level, adaptability aids in navigating the complex social dynamics of college life, allowing students to build and maintain relationships, even as their environments and social circles change. Resilience supports mental health by encouraging students to seek help when needed and to maintain their well-being despite external pressures.
The broad impact of fostering resilience and adaptability across a campus is profound, it helps create a supportive atmosphere where students feel empowered to face challenges together.
I believe that being hopeful can change your life.
I was always a very positive person. Ask any of my elementary school teachers, and they’ll tell you how hard I fought to always see the bright side. Unfortunately, my most insurmountable few years would kickstart right around middle school.
I tried rolling with a different crowd. The bitter preteen nihilists that claimed they loved the theory, with no clue how to spell it. I was miserable, and I felt so, so alone.
And that lasted up until 2020.
Lockdown hit, and with it, so did my father’s cancer diagnosis. My family was distraught and overly cautious, but for the first time in a long time, without the toxic influence of so-called “friends”… I felt hopeful. My dad’s medical prognosis was amazing, but it still shocked me enough that I had to step back and evaluate my life. After all, I’d been given such a harsh reminder of how short it can be. I started hanging out with a new crowd, though I mostly took time for myself. I figured out that I was transgender; I found a new name for myself, and I started to become a person that could smile again.
I believe that being hopeful can change your life, because I learned first-hand that the need for hope will find its way into your life in the most harsh way it can. I learned that life is what you make of it, what colored filter you place on top of your vision. Though it took me a trial by fire, I finally learned to find hope and joy in life, and it changed me forever.
Wow. Just WOW. Of all the blog posts I’ve read so far, I think I’ve connected to yours the most. Grief is the Thing with Feathers may be a book, but Hope was written long before it.
Having experienced how illness impacts family myself, having suffered through a mirror to the friend group you described, and having discovered my identity as a queer individual and a person comprised of more than I knew, all within the lockdown years… I got goosebumps reading what someone who shares a modicum of my own experiences wrote. It’s wild how our we can flip back around when we reflect on our lives and what comprises them, isn’t it?
It’s definitely not an easy thing to see a loved one suffer through such a life-altering diagnosis. It’s not easy to switch friend groups, especially not when they’ve affected you for the worse. It’s not easy to figure out your identity in the midst of a pandemic, where social media compensates for the stimulation of the outside world, and where it can plant ideas of shame and doubt as much as it can cultivate honesty and confidence. I, personally, applaud you for living through what you shared in your post. What’s more: I admire, not only your living through your challenges, but your changing for the better alongside them, as well.
Thank you for sharing your story, and—albeit unwittingly—thank you for allowing me to feel less alone in my own experiences 🙂
One belief that continually challenges me is the notion that everything happens for a reason. I have faced so many changes in my life that I never expected, and it has been tough to make sense of them. When I entered foster care, I was full of anger and sadness. Losing my dad and being in a new, confusing situation left me feeling alone and lost. My mental health started to suffer, affecting my schoolwork and my relationships. I could not stop asking myself why this was happening—why now, and why me? The question of “why” was a constant source of distress. It took a long time, but eventually, I started to see the positive side of my experiences. If I had not gone into foster care, I would still be dealing with the intense and harmful pressure and abuse from my dad. Instead, I have grown more independent and learned to be proud of who I am. I have made meaningful connections with friends and social workers who have been incredibly supportive, which would not have been possible otherwise. I also value the chance I have had to receive a free education. I came to appreciate the opportunities that came with my situation, Through the lens of time, I see that these hardships, while incredibly difficult, have contributed to my resilience and have shaped me into a stronger, more self-aware individual. The lessons learned have allowed me to move forward, heal, and find a sense of purpose and pride in who I have become. The belief that everything happens for a reason is important not just for me but for everyone. Life is complicated and filled with challenges at every turn, but those challenges often lead to growth, integrity, and perseverance. It is crucial to keep believing that there is a reason behind these difficulties to overcome them and find meaning in the struggles we face.
A belief of mine that has changed as I have grown, is how I view obstacles in my life. When I was a kid, obstacles seemed challenging and almost impossible to overcome. At that time, I was unaware that difficulties and obstacles could be surmountable with hard work and motivation. I learned this lesson when I dislocated my kneecap in a basketball game, I was stripped of the ability to drive for two months this along with the extremely uncomfortable brace and not being able to move very well.This posed a problem because I hate being trapped in the house and not being able to be active, no work, no gym, no sports. Over time I began to look at it in a different light. I was able to spend more time with my family and my dogs before I went off to college which I started to see as a positive.
As I continued throughout my senior year, I realized that specific problems in people’s lives, such as grades, relationships, or loss, can be extremely difficult to move past and grow from. However, after the healing process and effort, you can look back on those difficult situations with a sense of growth and development. Over time, I have come to see that obstacles and challenges are ultimately opportunities to learn and grow from.
Growing up, my mother always said to me that no matter what you can never completely prevent life’s obstacles from getting in the way, as trial and tribulation is just another aspect of life. But its how you react, that’s what matters.
There were many times in life were I found myself facing various forms of personal struggle, whether its something as simple as losing my house key and having to wait a few hours for my father to get home from work, or a long term struggle like my short attention span constantly preventing me from being able to focus on important things, I always try to put things in a positive light which is one of my personal key methods I use to persevere when faced with one of life’s many obstacles.
To think of a particular instance where I to overcome an obstacle that was out of my hands. I remember there was a time that I got caught up doing yardwork, for me not a particularly exciting task, but usually with the lawn mower and some hedge trimmers to deal with the bushes it’s a relatively easy task that gets done in a few hours. However halfway through this particular day the engine on the lawnmower blew when I was only about halfway done or so. Very frustrating to deal with especially as I knew that the sun was setting and I needed to come up with a solution fast to finish what I started. But instead of lingering on it for too long, I grabbed the old weedwhacker from the garage and used that to finish up with the best of my ability. Sure it definitely wasn’t perfect but it was the best option available at the time, and by thinking rationally I was able to overcome this obstacle with just a little bit of extra effort.
To sum it all up, whether its something school, personal, or work related. When faced with an obstacle, don’t linger on it. Face obstacles head on instead of either ignoring or dismissing them, because with a positive mentality thing always will go the best, especially when it comes to overcoming life’s obstacles.
Growing up as a biracial kid, I encountered certain challenges that made me feel like I was continuously caught between two different worlds. I felt as though I wasn’t “Black enough” with my black friends or I wasn’t “White enough” with my white friends. This feeling of not fitting in made me question my individuality and where I belonged. I started acting and speaking a certain way around both racial groups in hopes of feeling accepted by either side but it was tiring and I became distressed because of how I wasn’t truly being myself. But at some point, I realized that I am my own person, and my race shouldn’t dictate my personality. After I started being more of my authentic self around people it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. The problem today is that stereotypes force people into specific roles based on their race, which isn’t right. These stereotypes limit people to plain labels instead of recognizing who they are as a person. Every person is unique and shouldn’t be automatically categorized by their racial background, we even put ourselves in these categories without realizing it sometimes. It’s a bad habit we’ve learned from previous generations. We have to make a change so that future generations don’t adapt these bad habits. By embracing our different identities and breaking these stereotypes we can be more honest to ourselves and value each person’s individualities to create a more inclusive and understanding society.
Since I was four years old I have considered myself an athlete. My sports practices and games filled my life to the brim with hours of amazing laughs, challenges to overcome with myself and my teammates, learning to manage my time sufficiently, and shaping who I am as a person today. For the first time since I was a toddler, I am without my beloved athletics.
I am left wondering if I am allowed to call myself an athlete anymore, or if I will ever experience the feeling of being surrounded by my favorite people on a field again, or if I will miss out on some of the lessons that I have yet to learn, or if I will ever not miss playing organized sports. Yes, I could have continued my career of being an athlete in college, but would I rather sacrifice just four years of playing softball or risk my career of becoming a nurse? On this ledge is where my mind teetered for a year.
Over this year that I contemplated, I realized that I play sports because I am a competitive person. I enjoy challenging myself to see what I can achieve next and I always feel better after some hard work is done. Yes, a massive part of sports that I love is the atmosphere–the pressure that pushed me from my coaches and teammates, and the family that developed over the years of the team being together–but I can find my people and purpose outside of sports. Afterall, I am entering a whole new school with brand new opportunities and people that I could very well consider my family in the near future.
As I move away from the challenges given to me by organized athletics, I challenge myself to continue to achieve my goals. Whether it be physical goals set for myself in the gym, mental goals set for self-improvement, or academic goals. I challenge myself to be driven towards goals outside of sports the same as I was driven towards the goals set within sports. I may not be participating in organized sports anymore, but that does not mean that the entirety of my lifestyle must change as well.
One particular time of my life that has helped me become more social with people and has helped me grow as a human being was when I participated in high school sports. During my senior year in high school, I was able to get out of my comfort zone when it came to interacting with people, because I can admit, I have a lot of anxiety when it came to talking to new people. I was able to interact more with my friends that I know, and I felt more comfortable to talk to new people and make new friends. Secondly, Track and Field has helped me feel more confidence and it has decreased my anxiety because of all the support I had in and out of school. Track and Field was the best sport for me because the sport gave me an opportunity to really show what I was capable of doing, and the sport has helped me stay focused and determined to keep training and getting faster and stronger.
I went through a lot of hard times throughout my life, from depression, regret, negative thoughts and insecurity. Most of my life has been constant negative thoughts that have either been about myself or other people, and insecurity because of the acne on my face. I’ve had a lot of support from family members, teachers and therapists to help me be able to control my thoughts so I don’t let any negative thoughts affect me. Overtime, I’ve been able to overcome these things by just believing that negative thoughts don’t define who you are, and that nobody is perfect. I’ve learned that negative thoughts don’t go away on their own, but you are able to control them and not let them control you.
Kimber-Starr B.
While growing up, I believed that success was a direct result of talent.It seemed that most successful people were those who had a specific ability that set them apart. I started to believe that if I was not naturally good in a certain area I was never going to succeed. However this belief changed when I came face to face with a challenging period in my life.
In my junior year of high school, I began to face a few academic setbacks. Despite the effort I put in , I continued to struggle in subjects that did not come easily. I remember studying for what felt like days for one of the chemistry tests and then failing it. My confidence was shattered then I wondered if I even had it in me to succeed. Instead of giving up I decided to stay after school with the teacher and spend more time reviewing the material. It was not an easy road. There were moments when I wanted to quit but I kept going and pushed through. By the end of the year I had improved so much not only in chemistry but in the importance of understanding the true content of any given subject.
I learned that perseverance is more powerful than any given talent.I believe that it’s an essential belief that everyone should know. We all face obstacles; it’s our determination that pushes us through and defines who we are. I plan to carry the belief that success is not about failing it is about never giving up with me into Umass Dartmouth.
It’s important to consider what we could accomplish if everyone embraced the power of patience in a society that glorifies instant success.
I believe that it is important to take breaks from certain activities if it is mentally draining an individual. Towards the end of my sophomore year of high school, I struggled a lot mentally when it came to my sport that I had been participating in for roughly ten years. I started to lose passion in swimming because I noticed a decline in my performance due to a lack of dropping time. I started to think I wasn’t as good as my teammates and that I didn’t fit in with the team anymore. I didn’t think that I needed a break because I thought a break would only make my performance worse, but it was the best decision I could’ve made for myself. After a long conversation with my coach, we decided that what would be best for me is a few months off from swimming. I struggled mentally my junior year, and the break from my sport allowed me to realize the importance of listening to my body when it knows something is wrong. I spent more time focusing on school, my social life, and going to the gym on my own time. I grew to love myself again and gained a new sense of mind which allowed me to gain the confidence to come back for my senior year of swimming. Coming back was not easy as I was more out of shape than the rest of my teammates, but with the right training I slowly came back to where I was before and noticed my endurance getting even better than before. For the first time ever, I qualified for Nationals and was able to get to fly down to Florida and compete with my team. All of the hard work and determination I put into my training was worth it and I dropped more time than I ever did before. I would not have been able to do any of it without the importance of recognizing the need for a break. Taking a break and time to yourself does not make you any less worthy than your peers. It is important to recognize when you mentally and physically need a break from certain activities.
Meaghan P.
I believed for most of my life that I was invincible. That’s how most kids are, they believe nothing can bring them down, that is until something does. I had never studied for a class, pushed everything off until the last minute, and rarely paid attention. I did all this because I could, and I could always slide by with rather good grades. That is until senior year.
I was in AP English Literature, and it was the first class that ever made me question my intelligence. Was I really smart? That whole time, was it all a lie? Should I have been studying and planning like everyone else? Was I worth anything anymore, if I wasn’t smart? That was all I had going for me. I had about three friends who were all drifting farther and farther away from me, It seemed like I wasn’t welcome anywhere anymore. And the worst thing that happened the whole year for my family, was my aunt passing away. She had been battling cancer for years and died suddenly in October. For a long time, I really couldn’t do anything. I didn’t want to try anymore. This was when my belief changed when I realized that I wasn’t invincible and that I had to struggle and persevere just like everybody else.
After I took the AP Literature exam, I felt horrible about it. I had been struggling in that class, I was putting every bit of effort and energy I had into it because I knew my aunt would have wanted me to keep going and try my hardest. It felt horrible, knowing I had put everything into that exam, and I still wasn’t good enough. But when I got the scores back, I got a 5. It didn’t feel good, because I knew it wasn’t over. I had to keep working and keep putting all of my effort into things. Now I have to learn how to study, how to organize my time, and balance my life. I’m going to keep going because I have to. I have to make my aunt and the rest of my family proud.
Totally agree on that, I often found myself struggling with difficult syntax in AP lit, and my multiple choice practices never went too well, but when that score report came back, it was NOT all for naught. All I know is that the effort that I put in many of the classes that I struggled in will now also be devoted to english in order to keep up the pace!
In the summer of 2020, during the peak of COVID-19 my house caught fire, while me and my mother were inside. Normally I would be out of the house for most of the day because I was training at captain’s practice. I was upstairs in my room when the fire started, but my mother was downstairs, and she saw the fire and called the fire department. She thought that I was out of the house at the time and told them that no one else was in the house and that it was just her. While this was happening, I figured out myself that there was a fire, because there was an odd smell. I went outside my room and checked the bottom of the stairs and there was a fire raging. So, like any 14-year-old boy, I panicked and sprinted back into my room and slammed the door. I went to my windows and opened them immediately. Then I screamed as loud as I could, “IM UPSTAIRS HELP”. No one heard me, only then did I realize that I had to get myself out. No one was coming for me. My brain went into overdrive, and I started to think faster than I have before. After what felt like an eternity, but in reality, was about a minute or two. I came up with two options jump out the window and land in the bush just below my bedroom window or try and run past the fire at the bottom of the stairs. I decided that the stairs would be the more optimal choice. So, I walked back to the top of the stairs and steeled myself to run past. But by the time I was in my room the fire had started to creep up the stairs. In my quick thinking I walked a little down the stairs and broke the railing on the side of the stairs and jumped down and ran as fast as I could out of the house. Through this experience, I learned that life can at any point just abruptly stop. After this point in my life, I have lived every moment sense to its fullest and taking advantage of every opportunity given to me.
Trevar Araujo
Obstacles can constantly try to limit your vision of success and the way you preserver them shapes yourself as a person and on who will you become. I constantly create my own Obstacles ranging from believing what I hear and self doubt. I constantly create this negative persona of myself for short periods of time but I will allow for it to control my actions and thoughts.
Melanya N.
A belief of mine that has changed tremendously over the years is how I view and endure obstacles in life. Growing up in Sweden, I always imagined I was living the perfect life. After all, the people who had surrounded me throughout my entire life were all I knew. These were the people I truly considered my family, and the friends I had made were ones I thought would be lifelong. But one day, my parents broke the shattering news to my siblings and I: we were going to move from what we considered “home” to a whole new country. There, we would have to make new friends and grow close to family we used to see only once every couple of years. To 12-year-old me, this felt like the end of the world. I distanced myself from everyone I had grown up around, thinking I would never see them again. My family and I eventually arrived in the United States on August 24, 2017, and the sadness that came with the move seemed almost impossible to overcome. However, after spending almost seven years here, I have come to realize that moving was for the better, with new opportunities, and that it was not impossible to overcome. Starting at a new school and meeting new friends was not as difficult as I had originally thought it would be. I am now closer to my cousins than ever, whom I used to barely see. I consider each one of them another sibling, and I am beyond grateful to be so close to them. I am also tremendously grateful to be able to return to Sweden every summer to see my friends and family. While I am no longer friends with everyone I left behind when I moved, that experience showed me who my true friends are and those are the people I first go to visit when I land in Sweden. I have come to realize that some obstacles in life come with positive outcomes, however, they might not show until the long run.
“Have you ever thought about who you are in this? Are you the man in the pot, Diogenes? Are you his hand? Are you the top of his hammer? I think not — where your hand moves, the hammer may not follow, nor the man, nor the man’s hand. In this, you are his WILL. His intent. His embodied resolve in his uphill ascent.”
Before, I used to think that we as humans wandered this plain for no reason. I sought out answers that I told myself were unreachable. But upon hearing this single quote from a game, it challenged my point of view and my belief. It is an understatement to say that it changed my worldview as a whole; it has truly rocked me to my core without a doubt.
Now. I want you to think of who you are in this story.
The universe decided to give you this challenge, the one who came this far. It is glad that you have achieved so much this far into your journey. It gives this challenge with all of its love, as it knows that what you do now is not something that is pasted in a museum, nor is it ever actualized into the history books. It knows that it lives for the now. For this moment.
Devon E- One belief of mine that has changed, was the belief that you can go through life fully alone. Now I believe you need help and guidance for setbacks you’ll have. At the end of my sophomore year I completely tore my ACL and had to get surgery. I didn’t know if I would ever return back to sports because my doctor said recovery could take a year. My doctor talking about this complex surgery and tedious recovery scared me and made me rethink my goal of playing sports in college. But after that I talked to my peers that had this injury and coaches that have seen this injury. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel again. I knew I could bounce back with the help of the people around me and hardwork. After surgery I was in the worst pain and always uncomfortable. People would have to help me do things that I never thought I’d need help with. This includes getting in and out of bed, going up stairs, and more. Through this hard time I had trainers, my parents, and coaches pushing me to do physical therapy so I could be ready for my senior year. When I saw I had more than enough help and support, playing sports in college was my main goal again. Everyone has many setbacks, some worse than others. That’s why you have people around you to support and help you through moments you don’t think you can come back from.
AG
In my life, COVID was an obstacle that I persevered through and ultimately got through as a better and happier person. Most people wouldn’t consider the pandemic a positive experience, but it was surprisingly beneficial for me. This is because of two separate reasons; an increase of time spent with family and a newer understanding of myself.
Firstly, before COVID my Mom and Dad worked very late into the night. This resulted in me being home alone most of the time and never really having conversations with them beyond saying goodbye in the morning and goodnight. When COVID happened, my Mom’s workplace was shut down and my Dad decided to work less. This was a blessing in disguise, it allowed me to spend more time with them in some of the most important years for a child. This led to all of us having a stronger bond and closer relationship. The new family dynamic didn’t last long but it contributed to me feeling closer to my parents before going to high school.
Another reason why COVID-19 was beneficial for me was the effect it had on me mentally. Previous to the pandemic, I was very focused on school and academics. When we got to go home for many months, it showed me that there were more important things in life than just school. I still stay focused on schooling but I never let it stress me out, this caused a much happier life outside of school where I could enjoy myself without always thinking about an assignment or test.
Zachary G
Socialization, networking, and communication skills are vital aspects to achieving success in life. In almost every educational and work environment, interactions with other people — whether they are peers, coworkers, or bosses — are what dictate how much you take away and learn from each experience. In my mind, the absolute most important social skill to have is respect.
It is commonly said that respect is not given, rather, it is earned. In some regards, I agree with this statement. However, I find that the most effective and considerate way to “earn” someone’s respect is to present them with respect. Particularly in a work environment, respect has the power to change a person’s entire experience. Just this past summer, I had to work with an individual that completely lacked respect. He was inconsiderate towards personal boundaries, had no regard for the mental well-being of his coworkers, and did not care to put in the same effort that everyone else was putting in. In other words, he had no respect for his job, the people he was working with, and thus, had no respect for himself. This made working with him miserable. Every day, I dreaded going into work because I knew that I had to deal with such an inconsiderate and immature person. His lack of respect not only affected his coworkers, but also himself. It caused him to be sent home, assigned different positions, and ultimately work less hours, meaning he did not get the full experience that he had originally signed up for.
On the other hand, having respect can open many doors that lead to greater success in life. Being kind, considerate, and empathetic — all key components of respect — makes it that much more likely that the people in your life will see your ambition, dedication, and willingness to persevere that so often get shrouded by a lack of respect. Your bosses, professors, coworkers, and advisors all want to help you succeed, but will not do so unless you learn to have respect.
I couldn’t agree more. Having respect for yourself and the people around can positively impact everyone and help you grow not only as a person, but as a member in todays society.
A belief that really changed me is accepting failure as a stepping stone to success. As I was growing up I realised failure is not something you can prevent even though I always wanted to be successful and always try to prevent failure it’s not something that I could do anything about.
Some events that happened in my life has been a point that failure isn’t something you can really prevent or avoid , one event is when I decided to take an early College class public speaking, even though I had trouble speaking in public speaking in front of a lot of people I still took it because I saw it as a challenge. I wanted to challenge myself, but it was really difficult for me to speak in front of a lot of people so I dropped out of the class and it was really hard for me. Most of the assignments for the class were presentations and it was really hard for me to do them so I dropped out of the class. I didn’t see that as a failure, I was proud of myself that at least I took the class and did like two presentations even though it was really hard for me, so I looked at that as a stepping stone not as a failure.
This event and many more past events in my life that have challenged me have shown me how failure it’s not always a bad thing sometimes but it can make you challenge yourself as an individual, take risks and also learn new things. This belief has helped me grow in my ways and coming to college this fall I know is going to be challenging and I’m going to face many failures on the way, but I’m not going to let that bring me down or make me feel any less of a student but let it encourage me to push harder and try harder which is going to help me achieve my goals.
Over the course of my life there have been many difficulties and roadblocks that have prevented me from achieving my personal goals, and of these obstacles none have limited as much as my own mind. To attain any goal you must have motivation and belief in your own ability to act upon your desire to accomplish that goal, these two factors have contributed to my failure many times and most definitely will continue to be the most difficult things that I will deal with. Yet earlier in my life I did not have issues with these factors however as I grow and more experienced in life I realize that I have not attained mastery over any skill and from this come a loss in desire to do things. So as I enter college and I have taken time to reflect on these emotions I gave come to understand that self improvement is journey that continues to the end of our lives and through self improvement one will become more confident in the ability as well as that self-governing is most often Faustian in nature while external motivation through family, friends, and society is more often longer lasting and provides mutual motivation for all involved. This idea of a living a life based on self-improvement and doing it for the benefit of not only ones self but also a persons community has led me to have less difficulties with my own mental roadblocks but also allowed me to help others and be helped in turn.
Above all else, I believe in myself, but this wasn’t always the case. Growing up I believed that some achievements were just beyond my reach, no matter how hard I tried. This mindset caused me to close many doors of opportunity I could’ve utilized to aid me on my journey through life. If not for supportive friends, teachers, and family I likely would’ve kept holding onto this belief, clipping my own wings. Among the many moments of encouragement, one event stands above the rest as pivotal in turning my self doubt on its head.
It was the end of my high school junior year, in the band room, and preparations for the football season of next year had begun. As a percussionist in Taunton High’s symphonic band this time of year was extra special, because it was when our tenor drummer would choose a new up and coming senior to play them for their senior year. I was one of two of these, but didn’t believe I was capable. The tenor player at that time, however, saw potential in me that I was blind to. He gave me his sticks, and told me he was confident that I would be a great tenor player, even greater than him.
His belief in me fueled me as I practiced for hours after school everyday, and eventually I proved him right. With some effort and belief I was able to do something I never thought I could. Sometimes belief in yourself needs to be jump started by belief from someone else, but wherever you get it, you can do anything with it.
I used to believe in the ridiculous myth of Bigfoot for the longest time. I was convinced that there was a tall and hairy creature roaming the woods of northern Maine. I watched a Disney movie called, Hairy and the Hendersons. It had a little jump scare with Bigfoot in it and it scared five year old me right into my mothers arms. After about 20 minutes of me having a breakdown, I calmed down and went onto my Ipad to do some more research on this creature that scared me so badly. I started to watch sighting videos on Youtube and went down the rabbit hole. I watched stupid Bigfoot videos that were clearly fake but fooled my young mind. After this there was no way I was going into the woods. It freaked me out so much that it took me almost ten years of hunting to get over the fear. I remember when I really got over it though. I was sitting in a hunting blind at the edge of a field. I’d sat in this field for hours when finally some turkeys walked out. They sat there and pecked at the ground scrummaging for food. I looked at them through my scope with no intention of shooting them because I was hunting deer and just simply watched them. They peacefully hopped around and it made me realize that animals have no intention of violence they are just simply trying to survive. Which made me think, why be afraid of something just trying to survive? The thought process snowballed into how I handle fear. I thought, “why should I be worried about things that are out of my hands?” I think this will be important to remember through the next few years of my life.
Janie V.C.- I have grown up in the church my whole life. Every Sunday morning at 11, I would be sitting in a pew probably staring at the stained glass instead of paying attention. For most of my life I didn’t know why I believed in God, which led to me questioning my faith. The first time I questioned my faith was in 2016 when my great grandmother passed away. My great grandmother was one of my biggest inspirations in life. She came to America in 1995 at 66 years old. She stayed here and made a living so that the rest of her family could join her. They joined her 10 years later, in 2005. I was born a year later. She was my reason for everything. She’s the reason I learned creole, the reason I tried so hard in school and the reason why I always found family so important. When she passed away, I was ten years old. I had never had to mourn someone’s death before. I was scared and angry, scared of how different life would be without her. I was angry at the world and somehow ended up angry at God. I was mad at Him for taking a strong woman who was a saint in my eyes away from me. I ended up questioning if He was even real. In 2022, I attended my first YES Retreat. The YES Retreat solidified my belief in God. I learned that God does not make you suffer, and He does not make bad things happen. He allows such things to happen, so that you can grow and persevere. My belief is not only important to me, it is important to our wider community. It is important because God gives people clarity, a safe haven, and reminds them they are not alone in times of destruction. What reminds you that you are not alone?
Thomas G.
Ever since I discovered running, the way that I see all other obstacles in my life has changed. Humans sure aren’t perfect, but we are built to withstand a lot. Be that the endless stress that comes from an increasingly “modern world” or the toll of miles and miles of aching legs. When I first started my running journey, I didn’t realize my own limits – just how much I could take – and this often caused me to give in early. Instead of pushing for the extra hundred yards, I would concede to my aching muscles and gasping lungs. But during one particularly grueling run, when I had reached that physical state where everything is telling you to stop, I decided that I was just going to keep on going. I chose to block out the exhaustion, just simply focus on my mind, and, eventually, the pain subsided and a feeling of calmness came over me. I had broken through, forced my way through “the wall”. I had no idea that I had that within me, the capacity to just keep going no matter what, and from that point forward I became a much better runner. It was as if the harder the obstacle was, the easier things would be once I had gotten through it. So I simply pose: whatever the next challenge that you are facing may be, just keep going, and maybe through determination, brute force, and even luck, you might just get through it.
Thomas M. Your choice to keep pushing even though you thought you were at your breaking point is very inspiring and helps prove to the rest of us as humans how strong we really are.
As Modana puts it, “Life is a mystery” (From “Like a Prayer”), and obstacles that are included in an unseen future help nothing. Still, they do cause even more anxiety about how they may affect the current, and next chapter of our lives. The realization is that everyone knows the feeling of a plan being prevented because of a setback that they couldn’t and didn’t know how to stop while in the moment. Which depending on the obstacle can make a person feel they’ve been regressed several steps in their life.
A situation like this came to me recently. This year mid March I had both my car totaled in an accident and a pet I had recently gotten, passed away. My car which I had saved up for since my Junior year, was gone in an instant which had left me with nothing but a little over 700 dollars left in my account. And a pet I had dreamt of owning, died in a matter of weeks after my crash. Both of these caused an excruciating amount of angst and dissatisfaction where I felt I was for months. I felt like, after everything I did to get these things, my hours at work, and my patience were for nothing. This made me feel like I was starting at the beginning of a video game without checkpoints, because of how fast each event happened it felt like my world was crumbling.
Considering what happened I still couldn’t grieve forever, and with my people around me to pick me back up, I learned two things from those occurrences. Losing my pet was a message telling me it may not be the time to have a pet now with college coming, and my car was to be prepared for the worst because you never know what may happen. I believe that even if these could be some of the worst things to happen all year, I could improve from this. Now I have money in my account in case of emergencies like my car accident, and it may be better if I buy the animal I want until I leave college considering the “no pet” rule. So I have learned these things may be better for me than I realize and stuff happens all the time, but it is all in how you handle it that determines the outcome.
As a kid, I wanted to win every game. I wanted to be the best at everything I did. If I didn’t win, then there was no purpose in playing. During my sophomore year, I decided to join the track team with only one goal in mind. To win. I thought to myself it was just running in a circle, how hard could it be? Wrong, I was terrible. It didn’t take long for me to realize this sport was not just about running in a circle but patience, confidence, and the constant drive for more.
Track taught me that winning isn’t always guaranteed. One can train relentlessly every day and still not get the results as expected. In some cases, I would win multiple medals, gain points for the team, break my records, and still feel unfulfilled with my performance. I wanted that top spot for myself.
This mentality took a turn when I developed stress fractures in my shins which caused me to cut my season short. I felt devastated as I watched other athletes accomplish PR’s and medals, I craved. During the off-season, I trained hard. I established a growth mindset and set out to grow no matter what.
In the following season, I cultivated a strong mentality of embracing the struggles before the win. I’m committed to trusting my process. Only I dictate my path. Being a winner isn’t because of luck or accident. Winning is from determination, hardship, and action.
Kiyan W.
It’s never enough just to keep going with the flow. Those who get caught within the current will be swept out to sea and may float like driftwood, carried by the tide, or find themselves sinking deep into murky waters. I found myself so often feeling like a stick in the mud, unable to float nor merely sink and settle, so caught by the reeds of others’ wishes and hopes, never thinking of my own. The obstacles I ran into were many: Learn a new language, overcome physical and mental ailments, some chronic, some ebbing and flowing. The goals set before me were also enumerated greatly, much the same as the challenges that sought to strike them down: Be the first to graduate high school, find a passion, learn what no one else in your family has ever had the opportunity to learn, and make an honest living for your future generations. Faced with such challenges and such lofty goals, each passing moment felt a heightening tension, one that felt like a mountaineer slowly summiting the mountain of my mind and each passing moment of that increasing tension was like an icepick being wedged between my brows until finally, it peaked. With this peak came a moment, a moment in which I brought my digital hand over to digitally rip open the envelope that held my future. With a splash of tasteful confetti, I was in. Pressure absolved, the mountaineer falls down the mountain, landing in a frigid stream, and begins his slow journey out into the sea. But his journey is not yet over. When there are times of trouble he will return, because one summitting is not enough for him, his goals reach beyond that… But when he returns, I will be prepared. I have spoken to a mountaineering deterrence expert on how to prevent such evil characters from scaling my mind and creating terror and melancholy, and the many wild animals, natural hazards, and traps that I have set will do me more than enough good for stopping him.
As I reflect off my life I deeply reminisce my high school years. Everyone says they are supposed to be the best four years of your life so why do I not feel it? I could think of so many adjectives to describe my experience as a high schooler. Some of the following include disappointing, adventurous, mindful and eye opening. Unfortunately my high school experience was dictated by a boy. I began to care less for school and more for him as the days went on. I spent years dedicating everything to someone who deserved nothing from me. Someone who was so unhappy with themselves that the only self fulfillment they had within themselves was hurting me. After many years this person threw me away like I meant nothing, I thought this was the end of me, I never thought I would recover. However although that breakup broke the past me, it build me into who I currently am. i’m not the same person this guy once destroyed, I have new morals, new goals, new boundaries and a new way of life. I hated myself for allowing him to destroy every aspect of my life. That’s when I decided it was time to change myself for the better. I began to focus on school and myself. I did some self reflecting to learn who I was individually as a person rather than just a side piece to this man. I took over a year to heal and learn myself when I met the man i’m currently in a relationship with. I’m able to be my own person. He doesn’t bring me down or switch my morals, instead he motivates me to want to do better for myself and for him. I feel the self growth within myself with him which is such an astounding feeling. It feels like a breath of fresh air and I couldn’t be more thankful for new opportunities coming my way.
I believe that people can change. Some people may think it’s impossible because of how they are and used to. In my experiences, addictions or relationships and personal growth can develop in a person.
Difficulty can act as a trigger for transformation. Those who are struggling with addiction, trauma. Many can learn how to be more resilient and stronger as a result of those challenges that force them to reconsider. To be happier, more fulfilling with their lives, even by learning new coping mechanisms that can help them grow and be healthier.
Change is evident in relationships. Not everyone has the same mindset as each other. Connecting with others exposes us to a variety of viewpoints that can change the way they see the world. Once a person becomes close with others who share different backgrounds, they may learn to reconsider their biases. Having experiences with someone who is emotional intelligence tests a lot of patience and understanding, but you learn how to help another understand by explaining. I think conflicts, love and empathy can cause people to reevaluate their attitudes and actions.
Personal growth is a change that everyone has in them and their lives. People learn to adjust to everyday life situations and face these problems. Someone who was formerly impulsive can learn how to think before doing, while someone who is insecure of themselves can learn confidence. We are forced to face our flaws, but we have the choice to become the better versions of ourselves by reflecting on who we are.
Change is possible, even though it might be challenging and gradual. It takes effort and perseverance. However people can and do change their life if given the proper inspiration and mechanisms. One of the fundamental aspects of being human is change, whether it comes from relationships, personal development or even hardship.
I think that individuals are capable of change. Being flexible and able to change, people are not perfect in any way. We give ourselves the chance to improve upon who we are by accepting and potential of change.
Growing up, my mom always told me I was going to be good at something whether it was sports, drawing or even speaking to a big group of people. As a kid I always wanted to be a professional baseball player. I’ve always had dreams of being a pro player & making it big for my family. One little obstacle held me from achieving that goal.
In the summer of 2021, I had started to gain interest from coaches from Holy Cross & right after the reach out from them I broke my left hand and dislocated a finger which led me into surgery. This injury took a mental toll on me because as soon as things started to go somewhat good for me I get hurt and things instantly felt like I was going south. It felt like everything I had worked for leading up to that point got taken from me and I wanted to give up.
Despite the injury, I rehabbed my hand and I got back on the field in under 6 weeks when the doctors told me 2-3 months. I use this story because this is a huge obstacle in my life, this injury took my whole summer and I wanted to quit but I didn’t. I persevered, put the work in and got back to healthy.
Now I hope that I can play for UMass Dartmouth and continue to pursue my child hood dream of playing at the college baseball level.
Braden C
I believe that the best thing anyone can do is to just show up and try. It doesn’t matter if you fail or anything like that, just doing the best you can is all you have to worry about. I started to develop this belief when two of my close friends and I started playing soccer in junior year of high school. We all used to play when we were little, and we all also quit around the same time in sixth grade. So of course, we stunk when we picked it back up for summer captains practice. I started to have a lot of anxiety about letting down my team and the fear of people not liking me since I wasn’t good started to fill my head. When it was time for tryouts, I missed 3 out of the 5 days since I was so nervous. Luckily, I was blessed with great friends that I went in with and even some new friends I made at those summer captains practices. When I stopped showing up, they reached out to me and asked that I show up again just to make sure I didn’t want to do it. On my first day back, I had a conversation with the coach. He told me even though I wasn’t great at soccer, I showed up with a smile on my face and had the best attitude on the field. Though he found better words to say it and it may come off as cheesy to anyone else, it meant a lot to me. I ended up playing on JV with the two other friends I went in with and I had the time of my life. If I were to quit, I wouldn’t have made those memories and gained the skills of being part of a team. As we start this year of college, don’t let yourself get in the way of success. Go to class, use your resources, stay positive, and try your best!
Growing up I always had a plan of exactly what I wanted to do and thought that was the best and only way to live life. Yet as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned that there is so much to the world, everyone has different experiences and different ways of living life.
The first time I realized how different someone’s life can be in comparison to someone else was when I was meeting my mom’s friends. One was a doctor, one was a nurse and one worked in construction. From every conversation I had with each of them the world I had known grew a little bit bigger. Plus what blew my mind was not only had each friend taken a different path they were all happy and successful. Which made me realize how individual each person is.
With this newfound perspective, I’ve realized that not only is everyone different but there is so much that can make others happy without you even knowing about it. So from now on I am more willing to try new things and learn about different parts of the world that I had never batted an eye at beforehand. I think this gives us as students a reason to get to know each other and embrace what we learn to shape the world we want to live in.
Youth is a time for learning and development, but sometimes we can only learn things by figuring it out the hard way. Sometimes we can only gain experience and therefore wisdom and maturity, by going through something that we hadn’t planned for, like hitting a bump in the road. But sometimes a little bump in the road is what we need for us to realize the things that are most important.
My bump in the road was at the end of April of my senior year, when I had scored the chance of being an intern at a hospital. I was excited. I looked forward to it. I felt grateful to be there shadowing nurses, and learning about patients and being surrounded by illness, and injury, and emergencies because I was learning something because I was taking a big, giant, daunting step to prepare myself on some level for what I wanted to do in life. But why did I want to be a nurse? That’s what I had been repeatedly asked. I didn’t have a grandiose story about a relative who was a nurse, I didn’t have an inspirational moment when the realization had clicked. I had no idea why, but I do know that I want to be a nurse. Does there have to be any more reason for why I want to do something that I just simply want to do?
Then my internship was terminated. Put more plainly, I was let go. Without putting it lightly, I was fired, and those are the truest words to ever be said to me over email on a Wednesday afternoon. And I had no idea why. It was like a punch to the stomach. Like smashing into a brick wall. Like hitting a bump in the road then falling and smashing my face on the pavement because I was left questioning: what had I done wrong?
For the first time, my resolve wavered—okay maybe not the first time. But maybe this was what I needed to reach the level of maturity necessary to move forward and towards greater things. Afterall, don’t we learn from our mistakes?
It wasn’t until later that I realized I had done nothing wrong. Nothing except being myself. It turns out that employers don’t want that. Not when that means you’re shy and introverted. For all the times that I’ve heard the phrase “be yourself”, that one bad experience and unlucky case of bad management had succeeded in destroying my belief that being myself was the best thing I could do. That may be true in some cases, but perseverance and putting on that mask of professionalism and smacking on that welcoming smile wouldn’t hurt if it meant I was helping patients. If it meant I had the chance to do what I wanted in life, I could go that extra mile to reach my goals and persevere.
So my question is: what will I do and how far will I go for happiness?
Perseverance is a key concept when you are trying to overcome obstacles. Life is never easy, but if you persevere and surround yourself with positive people and thoughts, you can get through it. My life has not been the easiest either, especially during high school. I have been to four different high schools all within four years. The second high school I went to was very different from any of them. It was across the country in Colorado, a different setting, a different type of weather, new friends, and a new experience. For me to be able to go to school there, I had to complete a 24-day wilderness trip in New Mexico. This was such a big change for me that happened so fast. From seeing my mom every day to only seeing her every three months and then having to go on a trip with no phone, no shower, no deodorant or bathroom. The way we used bathrooms was digging holes and we had to use river water that we cleaned to drink. I couldn’t talk to anyone outside of my group and we had to carry backpacks weighing close to 100 pounds and walk at least 5 miles every day with them on. It was a very challenging experience especially when we had a long hiking day. The main obstacle was trying to think positively and keep pushing myself. The closer the trip came to an end, I felt so accomplished with myself. I learned that I can handle more than I think or that thinking positively and seeing a different side of things can get you through hardships.
July 9, 2024 at 10:27 am
Antonio .S
Their are many obstacles that hinder people mostly on their progress. Some could be small like challenges on games, or even small chores. Many can be indecisive between choosing to do homework or do it later to having fun. A good portion would be what you’re next move; Which can be a obstacle slowing you down. The main one is Time.
Time is what people only realize once they notice that there running out of it. It’s what makes people under preform, not give their best potential. Its stopped many people to make their dreams that they wanted when they were little. its the one Big thing that have made lives little more miserable. but reasons are is because people have many things they want to do
This 18 year wanted to do a lot of things which brought one thing to another and another and so on. not only this 18 year old but many people. But it was until they realized Time is limited so instead of doing everything people will have the time to focus on 1 Thing. That is how you will persevere against Time.
August 10, 2024 at 7:31 pm
Very well said, I think people do overlook how little time they have and how often they waste it.
September 3, 2024 at 2:39 pm
Wow, I’ve never thought of it like this. Time really is an obstacle that we all go through. It truly hinders us from doing so much.
July 15, 2024 at 2:57 am
Eva S.
There will be moments throughout your life that you inevitably make the wrong decision, move away from your intuition and face the repercussions of those choices. When this occurs, we are not victims of the world around us; instead we are victims of ourselves. You may be your own worst critic, but you can learn to be your greatest source of motivation.
Unfortunately, many children grow up angry. Angry at family, angry at friends, angry at support systems and furious with themselves. People who grow up under narcissistic influence might believe that they will never be sufficient. In personal experience I found myself stacking expectations for myself that were far beyond what I was capable of achieving in a healthy way. I channeled my anger into hours of physically demanding weightlifting sessions. For a while I was making amazing progress and fitness became my identity.
The image that I had worked so hard to tailor was destroying my relationships, my self esteem and more importantly my sense of self. I was so hyper fixated on how I looked that I didn’t allow myself to get close to anyone in fear they would see me how I saw myself. I was in a competition with both myself, and the world around me where I was never in first place. I would continue to ignore the cracking joints partnered with nausea until eventually my immune system gave out completely. For the first time I was forced to take a break, and to my surprise the world didn’t end.
During that break I learned to work alongside great people, not in spite of them. That you should train to feel good, not solely to look good. To forgive the people who have hurt you, for they themselves are hurt. To show kindness to yourself, for resentment only works against you. And most importantly to trust your intuition, for it is there to guide you.
August 15, 2024 at 11:40 pm
What I have learned in my life is that life is not perfect. You will come across setbacks, depression, hardships, and a lot of other things that can affect you in some way. Sometimes we might even think that we aren’t good enough and we would try to overwork ourselves in any way to try to make ourselves “perfect”. but the reality of it is that nobody’s perfect, and all we can do is figure out how we can get though it and move on with positivity, and work on ourselves physically and mentally so we can live life to its fullest.
August 15, 2024 at 11:47 pm
Mark M
What I have learned in my life is that life is not perfect. You will come across setbacks, depression, hardships, and a lot of other things that can affect you in some way. Sometimes we might even think that we aren’t good enough and we would try to overwork ourselves in any way to try to make ourselves “perfect”. but the reality of it is that nobody’s perfect, and all we can do is figure out how we can get though it and move on with positivity, and work on ourselves physically and mentally so we can live life to its fullest.
July 19, 2024 at 9:00 pm
Keira B.
Throughout our lives, we are bound to face a number of grueling challenges and we will have to make many strenuous decisions as we grow older. In fact, many of us have already dealt with our fair share of obstacles. While everyone deals with misfortune and mishaps, not everyone has the same way of coping through these problems.
Growing up is a great way for people to figure out who they are or who they might be, and time makes us question ourselves quite often (some more than others). Ever since the seventh grade, I was stuck questioning my self identity and my self expression. I grew up being very insecure due to a fear of judgement that I developed very early. The most impactful time of my life was around freshman year when I started to question my identity. At the time, I did not consider myself “feminine” and I cringed at the thought of being considered a girl. I started to wear more gender neutral clothes, I cut my hair, and I even did my makeup to make myself appear more masculine. Of course, this transition came with a lot of self doubt and body dysmorphia which made my self esteem plummet.
I look back at those days and I realize that I should never be so hard on myself when it comes to “being perfect” and rather just focus on being myself. I have persevered and learned to not let the thought of others judging me get in the way of who I truly am. These obstacles have not made me change how I identify or how I dress or even how I talk, but they have helped me be the most authentic me that I can be, and that will never change.
September 1, 2024 at 7:57 pm
This is so well said and I completely agree that you should always be your authentic self no matter what. I feel like a lot of people focus more on other’s perceptions rather than their own opinions.
July 21, 2024 at 9:52 pm
Gabrielle B.
One of my best friends I met in middle school. Sitting alone on the schoolyard bench by himself I went over to introduce myself. We have been best friends since then.
Ian and I have so many things in common even though on the outside we are very different. Ian was a shy kid who never spoke to anyone, I was a social butterfly. His parents were happy we became friends. We would play video games together all the time and then he invited me to his house to swim in his inground pool. His parents call me the “Ian whisperer” because I am the only one who could make Ian talk.
Ian decided he would get a job at our local supermarket. How was he going to talk to anyone? Then, he met Ashley. Ashley was also a friend of mine. Now I can talk, but Ashley, she can talk a hundred times more than I can! So, between Ashley and myself Ian was bombarded with words, questions and conversations.
Recently, Ian shared his diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) with me. I had no idea he had ADHD. I made a point to learn all I could. The symptoms are broad and the outlook is different for everyone, but Ian is doing quite well. He graduated high school with honors and is going to school for engineering. Both Ian and myself have invisible disabilities, the difference is Ian knew about mine all along.
July 24, 2024 at 1:43 am
Ty A.
Throughout my life, I’ve been substantially happier when I’m working towards a goal set by myself. Spending too long relaxing will leave me unfulfilled and discontent. Unfortunately, I really struggle to find the motivation to partake in my favorite hobbies, which has developed insecurities within myself.
I’ve had many periods of time where I dream about doing the activities I love, yet I’m always held back by a worrisome thought in my mind. It’s a fear of mine that tricks me into believing I’ll just be wasting my time with hobbies, and I’ve spent too much of my life feeling meaningless and avoiding new experiences due to this fear. Lately, I’ve been trying to overcome this and convince myself that my happiness is meaningful and worth my time.
This new mindset I’ve acquired thanks to my self-dissatisfaction and my lovely partner’s encouragement has allowed me to experiment with new interests. I’ve attempted to make music, and despite my failures in it, I still feel as if this experience helped grow me as a person. More significantly though, I’ve been researching coding and game development on my own time. While I plan to fully learn coding during college, taking time to learn about my lifelong passion has led to my life feeling meaningful to me.
My first step towards taking control of my life was successful, and I’ve become more optimistic for my future. All you need is to push yourself forward into new horizons and you’ll grow within them.
August 14, 2024 at 7:10 pm
So true Ty, when I am motivated and setting goals for myself I feel so much better as a person in all aspects of life.
August 17, 2024 at 2:03 pm
I completely agree when you doing hobbies that you enjoy is definitely better than trying to fit in with other.
July 24, 2024 at 3:07 am
Emmanuel A
I remember as a kid, I always wondered about having superpowers. Whether it be flight, super strength, or super speed… you know, anything you’d see in a TV cartoon. As I grew older, I realized that disappointingly yes, superpowers don’t exist. However, there are powers that we have as normal human beings that are just as great if not greater. In my short but notable lifetime, I’ve discovered that perseverance is one of the greatest powers we have as human beings.
My story of perseverance comes from my senior year football season. I didn’t know much about the sport when I first started as a sophomore. So naturally when senior year came, I knew it was time to get serious. Summer workouts at 8 in the morning weren’t easy and I remember the first week of practice being one of the toughest experiences ever. It was around 95 degrees every single day. Although it was strenuous, I knew I had to push through. Then came the first game. I remember being so nervous when it was show time but I knew all that hard work I put in wouldn’t be for nothing. We ended up winning that game and I was awarded MaxPreps player of the game.
In my opinion, perseverance is important because it’s the most beautiful form of strength in a person. It means more than just not giving up, it embodies the human spirit of resilience and determination. Throughout history, countless individuals and groups have shown astounding perseverance. That being said, it’s important to recognize that we all can persevere in anything we struggle with in our lives. Perseverance shows that the human spirit can overcome any obstacle and accomplish goals when combined with unyielding resolve and unwavering commitment.
July 28, 2024 at 11:08 pm
I agree that perseverance is a beautiful thing! I’m glad you allowed yourself to go through with that game and come out victorious. I hope you continue to perservere this way!
July 25, 2024 at 6:09 am
Grace L.
Old doors will shut, and new doors will open. Everything happens for a reason. Many times in life, doors will shut behind you, or right in your face. It’s easy to dwell on the past and criticize yourself for what you could’ve done differently, but it’s best to move forward. You are meant to be where you are now, hard times make you stronger and without lows in life there are no highs.
I have lived by this motto for quite some time now, and I wish I adopted it sooner. Throughout my life many doors have shut. People have walked out of my life that I thought I couldn’t live without, my best friends, my exes, all with little to no explanation as to why. Grief can make you want to turn around and pry that door back open, but you wouldn’t keep shaking the handle of a locked door in real life. Maybe you would, but you know breaking that door down won’t fix anything, and things will never be the same as they were before. It’s funny how after adopting this motto my perspective on life has changed so drastically, and without the haze of prolonged grief obstructing my vision, I can now see new doors opening to me. The butterfly effect is real, accept your fate and let it make you stronger. Go with the flow and don’t force things that aren’t meant to be. Learn to be comfortable in your own company, work hard, and chase your dreams.
July 28, 2024 at 10:51 pm
I resonated very much with the last few sentences, and I wholeheartedly agree with your statements. I wish I had realized that philosophy sooner as well, and I’m glad we’ve both come to realize it with time.
July 26, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Kayla C.
What is the most used excuse for procrastination? It’s either “I don’t want to do it” or “I don’t have time for it.” For me, it was “I don’t have time for it.” My junior year I took a bunch of AP classes, played two sports for school, worked 2-3 days a week, played travel sports all year round, was in clubs at school, and volunteered 1 day a week. I felt as if I didn’t have time for many other activities.
However, as the year went on my belief changed in some ways. Yes, there is not enough time in the world to do everything that one wants to do in 24 hours. Yes, some days feel so short to complete more than a few tasks. Yes, some days feel so long that all one wants to do is lay in bed. But, if there is something that someone wants to do, they will make time for it. Whether it is seeing friends, studying for a specific topic, playing sports or whatever it is, a person will make time for it. It all comes down to priorities.
Now that we are entering college, our academics will be a priority for us. Not just because it has to be paid for but because it is something that we all worked so hard to get to. Everyone had different paths to get to college, but we are here because we worked hard and had our priorities straight. This is something we must continue through our journey because there won’t be enough time for everything, but we have to put what matters more to us first. This is a belief that may stay with some of us through our time at UMassD, but we must change our mindset to be positive. With that, we can achieve all that we have dreamed of.
August 28, 2024 at 6:21 pm
Very well said, I couldn’t agree more. I know that I felt like I had very little time and learned the same lesson.
July 27, 2024 at 2:10 am
Jacob G.
Flash back to around October/November of last year: Right around College application deadlines. I had begun to stress about whether I felt ready or not, whether I had prepared enough, whether I had enough recommendations, and about a million other things that I hadn’t done enough of. It was one such evening when I had a conversation with my father, where I asked him: “When will I feel ready?” I meant this about not just college but life and being an adult as well, as my eighteenth birthday was just around the corner. His response was rather jarring to me at the time, coming from someone who I thought had everything figured out, he said: “You don’t.”
Two simple words; two words that powerfully resonated with me. If not even he was ready for life and adulting, then who could be. It then became apparent to me that we won’t ever truly be ready for anything. We can spend as long as we want planning and preparing, but it won’t change the fact that we have to just do it: we have to grow up, we have to live, we have to become adults, and we have to take charge of our lives. We may look at our parents and teachers and think that they have some secret technique to be ready for things, but they don’t, they simply understand that there come situations where no amount of preparation will help, and you just have to take the dive into the unknown. Sometimes the only preparation we really need is the first step.
August 2, 2024 at 12:40 am
Reading this opened my eyes to a perspective I hadn’t seen. Thinking that everyone else had all the answers, but really this is their first time living, just like us.
July 28, 2024 at 10:44 pm
Samantha B.
I’ve realized throughout all of my school years that perseverance is the most important thing to keep with me, no matter what happens. As someone with severe anxiety, things were very hard for me from fourth grade through all of middle and high school. I felt as though I were afraid of everything and everyone, and I never wanted to come out of my shell, in fear of judgement or failure. Growing up, this has shown itself several times to me in the form of many, many panic attacks, giving up on opportunities I would’ve done well in, feeling as though I couldn’t speak for myself, and countless other habits that slowed me down. I just couldn’t break the barrier.
Now, I’ve realized that there were two things I lacked. Confidence, and perseverance. In pursuing art, I’ve realized that in order to make an impact and see my dream come to life, I need to display my art for people to see, rather than hiding away and hoping silently for something to happen. Now, I’ve learned to offer to show my achievements, and push through struggles of everyday life while doing so. Anxiety still keeps itself around, but I finally feel like myself. I’ve won awards in school, made bonds, lost bonds, went through many ups and downs in my mental health, but it never occurred to me why I made it through all of this in the first place — until I grew close with my teachers, and they helped me realize what it was.
Perseverance. It was through this that I began to shine, and I couldn’t be happier. No longer will I let myself be stuck in the past, nor will I be afraid for the future. Because now, I finally believe in myself and my own potential, and I believe that I deserve to be happy with how far I’ve come. Here’s to the future.
August 14, 2024 at 6:46 pm
This is worded so well. I also had to search for my confidence a little through the things I love to do. I know now that perseverance comes with difficulties and that’s okay, we just have to have the willingness to persist!
August 23, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Trinity L.
Taking care of my mental health has been one of the most troubling and impactful experiences in my life. Catering to it requires regular attention, patience, and self-compassion. It involves acknowledging your emotions, embracing the highs and lows, and giving yourself space to reflect amongst all the chaos in your mind and body. Taking time to allow yourself to connect with others, taking walks, practicing coping mechanisms, and seeing the light whilst in the dark, are just the beginning ways to cater to your mental health. It’s about building resilience and finding balance, much like adjusting to new environments and finding comfort within them.
My journey towards understanding mental health began during a troubling period in high school. From the pressure of academic challenges, self esteem issues, getting along with peers, and personal conflicts within my brain, I found myself overwhelmed. The weight of expectations pressing heavily on my mind and heart caused me to lose focus. It was during this time that I sought therapy and learned the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care. This focus didn’t just improve my well-being, it changed my outlook on life and allowed me to see myself and acknowledge my pain more than the average teenager is able to. I developed empathy for those I also seen that were struggling and reflected my own trials and tribulations onto them for guidance.
Mental health isn’t just a personal matter, it’s an ongoing worldwide burden amongst our minds and a collective responsibility. For our UMassD community, I believe that adapting a culture of openness and support can create an environment where everyone feels valued and understood in a world full of societal norms. When we prioritize mental health, we contribute to a stronger, more connected community, where friends, family, teachers, and peers can succeed together. My experiences have shown me the importance of developing a supportive network and coping mechanisms , and I believe it’s essential for us all to listen and learn from each other’s journeys.
Do you believe that you can be an inspiration to those who are struggling with mental health?
July 29, 2024 at 9:40 pm
Caitlyn H.
I was a Stanley cup hater since day one. To me, those gargantuan water bottles were the ultimate display of consumerism. I would watch the videos of people camping out in front of Target, waiting for the doors to open at 8am, just to stampede through the store in search of these cups. Online, people dedicated themselves to collecting these $45 cups, equipping them with bags, snack trays, coasters, straw covers, and charms, all attached to these five-pound monstrosities. So, when my uncle decided that the perfect gift for my 18th birthday would be one of those cups I despised, I was in shock.
Of course I could never announce my disapproval to his face, as he had generously spent $45 on a water bottle he assumed I would be ecstatic to receive. I thanked him for it, and lied saying how useful it would be to me. The whole time knowing that it would go unused, as I was afraid to be seen with a cup that’s very existence went against my values of anti-consumerism.
My new Stanley sat untouched on my shelf for about a month. I could not bring it to school with me; it was far too big and heavy. The idea of taking this cup out in public felt humiliating. What would people think of me? Would they see me as a woman who blindly follows trends, trying to get her hands on the latest over-priced status symbol to compensate for her own insecurity? There was no way for people to know that this cup was a gift, or that this cup’s very existence disgusted me.
At the same time, however, I started to realize that not using the cup was somehow making me feel even worse. There was nothing wrong with this cup; it was good quality and in perfect condition. My uncle had bought this cup with the intention of it being used and appreciated by me, and there were so many other people who would have been extremely thankful for this gift. Leaving this cup completely untouched, and therefore completely useless, was inherently worse.
After my reflection, I decided to do what I had feared most: bring my Stanley out into the world. Was it excessively heavy? Yes. Did it fit in any of my bags? No. But it kept my ice cold and held my water like it was supposed to. And as I lugged my Stanley through the world with me, I finally realized that no one cared about the cup I was carrying, except for me. After overcoming my personal hatred of Stanley cups, I realized that despite something seeming embarrassing to use, we should be using objects to their full potential, as wasting something in the name of appearing anti-consumeristic is hypocritical.
July 30, 2024 at 1:09 am
As life goes on, there are times where it can get hard. Obstacles will come your way and sometimes it feels like it is the end of the world when it really isn’t. Other times it’s enjoyable and everything is a smooth sail, but the obstacles can come crashing down ruining your flow.
I believe the obstacles that we face during our life are God’s way of making us stronger. Teaching us lessons that we are supposed to learn, even though it might feel terrible during the time period. At the end, we bounce back as a new and better version of ourselves. It could be a moment or even a person. For me it was a moment, a really tough one. Summer of 2023 I had gotten into a car accident, and if I didn’t wear a seatbelt I would’ve gotten seriously injured or even more than that. That car accident tore me into pieces. My first ever car was gone. I cried for days. I thought my life wouldn’t have gotten better from the moment on. I saved up and spent all that I had on that car, but that wasn’t God’s plan. That car accident was surely a lesson for me. To be more careful on the road and to cherish the things I own. I worked hard and got another car that I’m more careful of now.
The obstacles that we face aren’t to make life harder, but to teach us something. To learn something. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
August 10, 2024 at 11:02 pm
I have always heard everything happens for a reason, and though not everything is a good reason and sometimes it doesn’t even make sense, but I also think that there is always something to learn in any experience life throws at you.
July 30, 2024 at 2:03 am
Rylee K.
For most of my life, I believed that stability and a strict routine were the keys to success. That having a clear, unchanging plan was the best way to achieve my goals. Having this belief gave me comfort and it gave me a sense of control and predictability in a world of chaos.
When my junior year rolled around, my belief changed. I was told that the school I’ve been attending for the past three years was closing and I’d have to transfer to a new school. This taught me the importance of being adaptable. As I was forced to say goodbye to my familiar teachers, friends, and classrooms and be in a completely new environment it felt like a complete setback, but it soon became a valuable learning experience.
Adapting to a new school environment caused me to get out of my comfort zone and helped me develop new skills. I had to make new friends, navigate different academic expectations, and learn my way around a new community. This showed me that adaptability is not just about surviving through the change but also how to flourish in it. It taught me to embrace uncertainty, be flexible, and always keep an open mind.
My new belief in adaptability has now become important to me. Adapting is essential for anyone’s personal growth and collective progress in an always-changing world. By embracing change, you not only become more resilient and innovative you become always prepared to tackle any future challenges.
As I prepare for college and beyond, I try to remember that adaptability is a strength that I can use to turn any unexpected changes into an opportunity for growth. Even though embracing change might be challenging at times it can also lead to incredible opportunities for your growth and development. Imagine the positive impact if we all embraced the changes coming our way.
July 30, 2024 at 11:34 pm
As I have matured into a young Black woman, my life has unfolded in a series of transformative stages. Initially, I thought my identity and success were tied to conforming to societal expectations, which felt like invisible chains dictating my every move. As college is approaching, I realize my journey has been about breaking free from these constraints and embracing confidence in my womanhood. I once believed that fitting in and succeeding meant adhering to societal norms for a young Black woman.
However, a pivotal moment came in my sophomore year of high school when I attended a talk by a successful Black woman in STEM. Seeing someone who looked like me thriving in a field I was passionate about sparked a new possibility within me, making me question the limitations I had placed on myself.
In addition, I struggled with self-love due to societal beauty standards that often-excluded bodies like mine. This changed when I chose to embrace physical activity as empowerment rather than fitting a certain image. I started going to the gym to burn off steam and work towards my self-love journey. Building physical strength boosted my confidence and helped me embrace all aspects of myself—my body, facial features, hair, and be more resilient.
I learned that flourishing means redefining societal norms to include and celebrate diversity. I hope to inspire others at UMass Dartmouth to celebrate their unique identities and understand that flourishing means different things to different people.
July 31, 2024 at 12:28 am
Danikka M.
At times, life throws obstacles at you that seem as though they are impossible to get over. For me, this happened at a very young age. When I was 3, my father had decided to leave his wife and 4 children behind. At the time, I did not realize that this would affect my life so dramatically. As I got older, I watched as my friend grew up with their father’s in their lives and I realized that I was living a much harder life than the rest of them. I watched as they learned things from their dad’s that I would have to learn by myself.
It is from this experience that I believe that obstacles and overcoming them are just what make us unique and give us the strength we need to survive in the harsh reality that is life. Without these obstacles, us as a society would be entirely too comfortable in our lives and would never learn the things we learn from making mistakes and overcoming obstacles.
August 14, 2024 at 12:58 am
I agree with this so much!
July 31, 2024 at 7:32 am
When you hear the phrase “foster kid” what is your initial thought?
Upon hearing this most people will assume the child in question is troubled. In most cases, they are, but they then equate “troubled” with rebellious. The truth of the matter is not all foster kids are BAD kids. While it may simply be an implicit bias, it continues to negatively affect the lives of foster care youth as, once it becomes known to others, it tends to become the predominant way they are viewed. This makes it difficult to form relationships in school especially. I know this to be true because I myself made these assumptions.
When I was in eighth grade, there was a transfer student. I remember him sharing that he was a foster child and found that I formed a negative opinion of him based solely off that. I believe I formed this bias due to the fact that whenever I would do something wrong as a child, my parents would threaten to “get rid” of me. Well, here I am now.
Like most foster youth, as a result of actions that were not my own, I have been placed in foster care for the past three years. This experience has opened my eyes to not only my own bias, but the bias of others around me. As a result of this, I met other struggling foster youth and found that it wasn’t just myself, a majority of us struggled to be better but we are NOT bad kids.
I hope that, coming from someone that has experienced and faced these stereotypes firsthand, the common belief that foster care youth are bad changes.
August 13, 2024 at 9:17 pm
Questioning a long-held belief Is often a transformative experience, reshaping our perspectives and deepening our understanding. One moment for me occurred when I confronted the idea that hard work alone guarantees you to be successful in life. For much of my life, I believed that if I simply put in all my effort, success would inevitably follow. This belief was reinforced by stories of self-made individuals and motivational rhetoric emphasizing perseverance.
However, during a challenging period in my life I found myself working tirelessly yet still falling short of my goals. Despite my dedication I encountered numerous setbacks beyond my control, this led to me questioning whether or not hard work was truly the key to success or if there were other factors that came into play.
As I reflected on this, I realized that while hard work is crucial it is not the only determining factor of success. Circumstances such as opportunities, timing, and even luck play significant roles. Furthermore, systemic issues like economic inequality can limit access to the resources needed to succeed, regardless of the effort put in.
This realization was quite humbling if im being honest..It forced me to acknowledge the complexity of success and the privilege I had in believing that hard work was the only ingredient and determining fact needed. It also deepened my empathy for others whose struggles may not. Be overcome by sheer effort alone. In questioning this belief I developed a more nuanced understanding of success and the myriad factors that contribute to it, making me more appreciative of my own journey and more supportive of others paths.
August 2, 2024 at 12:35 am
Jenna R
A boy made me ponder the reality of reasonings. I grew up hearing “what’s meant to be, will be.” Alongside with “everything happens for a reason.” As a little girl I didn’t think to question those phrases, I just carried them around with me subconsciously. So every time I fell off my bike, or took a tumble in my sport, I believed that there was always some reason behind it. I’ve grown out of that belief.
I first started second guessing those two, seemingly harmless, phrases in the middle of my very first relationship. Because sure, maybe I was meant to get a little bruised and beat up doing my sport, in order to learn toughness and perseverance. But was I meant to know the feeling of betrayal by a partner at the age of 15? Did I need to know what it felt like to have been taken advantage of by a significant other, before I could even learn the “birds and the bees”? I don’t think you need to experience physical and emotional pain, to gain the ability to understand. I definitely don’t believe that every situation concludes with a learning experience. You don’t need to experience pain, to grasp the concept of it. Do you need to chop a finger off to know it’s going to hurt like a bitch? No. Because not everything needs to be a learning experience. Going through pain can lead to making you stronger, sure. But it’s not necessary, to be equipped with that knowledge.
You don’t need to undergo a toxic friendship or relationship, just because in the end it will “make you stronger.” You don’t need to settle for something erroneous, for the sole purpose of thinking it has to happen, in order to discern its full capability. I may not ever know the pain of being kicked in the balls, but I don’t need to feel it to have empathy, compassion, and the understanding that it’s excruciating.
So what do I believe? I believe that our own experiences can be used to help us grow and understand, but those experiences are not a necessity. I don’t conclude that we must encounter good or bad, to fathom what is favorable and what is unfavorable.
September 2, 2024 at 6:17 pm
I’ve gone through something similar in a relationship, and I completely understand your realization. It’s hard when we expect that “everything happens for a reason”, only to find that some experiences are just painful. Like you, I also realized that we shouldn’t need to suffer to grow or understand things. We can learn from our experiences, but not every hardship has to be a lesson.
August 2, 2024 at 1:16 am
Galen Hawkowl
Throughout the early part of my life, I just believed everything that people told me and done everything people told me to do. For the most part, I still do what I am told to do, but I push back more if it is something I don’t like. At some point, I learned not to believe everything everyone says; I think that happened before the Trump presidency, when everyone was talking about what news is trustworthy or not. I think I started to question things I was told because my brother likes to say things he knows aren’t true and create very elaborate stories to see if I would believe him. I remember when he was in third grade and I was in sixth grade, he started telling my family about a small island named Silly. At the time, I believed him and even started talking about what I would do when we got to this island. I learned not to believe everything he said when I realized that what he was saying was outlandish, and then I stopped believing anything he said. Realizing that what my brother was saying wasn’t true, I started to question what other people said. My brother still loves to create elaborate stories, to the point where my family (or at least I) have stopped really believing anything he says. The way I decide whether to believe what other people are saying is by considering whether I think what they said is weird: if it sounds surprising, I am likely to look into it—I ask other people or the internet.
August 9, 2024 at 9:57 pm
Thank you for sharing! I grew up as an only child so I too believed a lot more than I should’ve growing up and probably still do.
August 5, 2024 at 5:39 am
Menscardy L
If given the choice between doing something hard or going insane, I find a concerning amount of people would take a running jump, forehead first into hysteria. Insanity is described as repeating identical actions over and over yet expecting a somehow transcendent outcome, as if touching the burning hot stove for the umpteenth time would illicit a cooling sensation. I believe anyone walking around with this obtuse purview is at best ill-advised and at worst willfully ignorant.
This inane mental gymnastic some find themselves performing can be surmised under many aliases, but the most poignant to be complaining. Complaining can wear many faces and include a plethora of nuances. These nuances are often used to justify a lack of meaningful exertion towards one’s problem, even going as far as implying that they justify either partially or entirely not doing a thing about them. I don’t mean to sound as if I’m devoid of all empathy and as if I’ve lived an existence beyond reproach; I have not; in fact, I’ve in the past and possibly currently within my subconscious commit the offense I write about above, but I believe those who know themselves to harbor such predilections and attempt to change are those who see the light of reason.
Life is a complicated endeavor, brimming with possibilities and problems at every junction. Maybe you don’t have as much time as everyone else around you to prepare in the morning for school or work; maybe you don’t have as much money as your peers to appear the way you want to; maybe you got your dad’s genes as a girl and have to shave your unibrow every other week. These, while all being problems admittedly, can’t be wished away; no amount of praying and begging can get you to where you want to be. No one in recorded history has ever received a fairy god parent, and I’d be willing to bet you won’t be the first. Many of the same people who are as familiar with complaining as they are with breathing have people around them that agree with them and keep them in this state of complacency.
If life were a simplistic turn of phrase, it’d be easy to tell that both the constant barrage of excuses, explanations, and paper-thin rationales and the hive-mind-esque support systems around you can be like crabs in a barrel, keeping you just still enough in place to never truly get anywhere in life. Holding on to you with the same grip one does with a life-saving raft. If you find yourself realizing that these are the hallmarks of your problems in life, then I strongly recommend you do something about it. Just try, try, and fix whatever issue you believe is plaguing your life. Let reason and logic be the rogue wave that shakes the barrel just enough to throw you into the safety of the water.
Complaining about a problem you can fix accomplishes nothing and only serves to waste time and energy. Choose solutions, choose answers. When adversity strikes, ask yourself, “What am I going to do?”.
August 7, 2024 at 5:51 pm
Ava C
Coming from a small school it was so easy for me to assume things about my pears considering I out his battles with suicide and fitting in. He described how he was playing basketball and was really struggling mentally and took it out on his family team mates and girlfriend at the time. He later on started asking if anyone else would like to share their story and at first no one raised their hands because its a very awkward situation to be sharing Infront of not just your peers but now your whole school. The first kid I’ve seem before in the hallways he was 2 years younger then me. He doesn’t say anything and goes up to the speaker and starts crying in his arms he then explains to the speaker and whole school how he’s a foster kid and has never felt like he’s had a home or loved by anyone. After he shared this story more and more people kept sharing their stories. This kid that was an incoming freshman and he’s smaller then most kids. He then explains that he was diagnosed with leukemia cancer when he was 3 and that’s why he’s smaller then most kids and his father is very abusive to him and his mother. While hearing all of this I kept thinking about how you really have no idea about anyone’s lives and never to judge anyone. This still effects me to this day and i think about this all the time.
August 9, 2024 at 5:47 pm
Zachary C
Going through life their will always be things to
August 9, 2024 at 6:16 pm
Zachary C
Going through life their will always be things to get in your way, like family and relationship issues, money, town or country issues, and so many other things in life.
For me being raised by a single mother with my sister was something I had too take into consideration because I had to realize that my mother was doing all the heavy lifting of raising two kids on her own and also dealing with her life problems. I was raised different then most kids mainly for the fact that my mom was raised by a military father so she kept some of those habits with her when she was talking and giving us life lessons like always making eye contact , make sure your hair is out of your face when speaking to someone and always standing straight. She made she sure that me and my sister were always respectful and kind too our elders and older family members. She also made sure we were got our education anyway possible even if it wasn’t in school, for me starting off with school was rough mainly because my temper and just not going too a good school but once my mom got the chance to move she took it and moved me to a better school and even bumped me up a grade to be with kids my age. from that point on things started to get better for me in school while at home things were starting to get more tense my sister argued with my mom and ended up leaving which she was my rock when my mom was not around. Then one week my mom decided to take me on a trip to Florida to visit my grandma then she thought about moving down too Florida for a change and too also take care of my grandma better. Once we moved down things started off weird for me and my mom because me and her did not have money saved to get a house yet or to get ourselves started to do really anything so we stayed at my grandmas house till we were able to get what we needed and also a house. Once I was able to start school that was one of the main things I was not prepared for, mainly for the whole switch of scenery and just everything from what I was used too. Clothing even down to the way they talked was basically new to me so I had to learn how they talked and dressed. But once I found people to talk too and more friends to hang out with it was starting to get better, I was even working with my neighbors lawn cleaning company for a decent amount of pay as well. But my mom thought it would be better if I finished school back up north with my dad who was never in the picture even when I was born so this through everything I had in plan for myself off the tables which made me a bit lost on what I wanted to do with myself and my future. I had a good amount of time ton think about it and also a lot of time in school to get the help and training I needed to make the decision of even going to college. Then once I noticed how well I was doing in my classes and becoming the top of a couple of my classes just made my dream of going to college even more in view especially playing sports I saw opportunities coming my way more then what I saw when I was still in Florida. I ended up getting a call from my stepdad saying my mom got arrested for something she shouldn’t have been doing so this stopped my mental part of myself because my mother was my role model and she ended up doing something stupid. After I got to call and talk to her about wat happened I just wished her safety and love and told her to called me every week just too check in and make sure she is doing ok. Given what has happened to me in the given years I’d say I wish it never happened but glad it did because this made me learn quicker and become more mature so I can become more independent and more able to do things when I get more older in life.
August 9, 2024 at 9:54 pm
Sabrina T-
I grew up believing that success was a linear term: if you did well enough in school and attended a college institution, then it would lead to getting into some prestigious job and from there continue upwards on the corporate scale. My parents pushed this line as the only way I could get on in life to have a stable and well-off future, both not reluctantly never have gone to college themselves. In middle school, there were two girls by the same name of which I was a part. Though we had the same name we were referred to differently I was the “smart one” while she was the “popular one.” I respected this name and enjoyed being the smart girl with top honors, volunteer hours, and countless extracurriculars until 2020 COVID-19 happened.
By my sophomore year in high school, a life-changing experience broke that foundation. This was the year after Covid-19 my first year of in-person high school. It was quite challenging for me to have to readjust to this type of learning having just adapted to distance learning as the new way of education. I then began to realize that despite me committing myself to school I was not always going to get the best grades or valedictorian. I then lost hope in being the “smart girl” and had even dropped all thoughts on being able to achieve college. Although on my transcript I may have not looked like the best student I still follow this belief as in my senior year when I reapplied myself, I was able to restore my faith in myself and now I am enrolled in UMass D’s class of 2028.
August 16, 2024 at 3:04 am
Well said. It isn’t easy to adapt to certain obstacles but once we learn the growth is worth it.
August 10, 2024 at 3:51 am
Colin C
I believe that no one should be scared to be wrong. In most of our day-to-day lives, people go through the day without having to think about being right or wrong, but when it comes time to think about whether you’re right or wrong, people will almost always shift towards the opinion or option that the majority has picked, even though it may be wrong or not the best choice, and that limits them from learning.
I know that when I think differently from other people and end up being wrong, it doesn’t always feel the best, but I know that at the end of it, I learned something new that I hadn’t before. I also know that when I think differently but I turn out to be right, it’s one of the best feelings, and I want everyone else to feel these feelings because I think they are things you need to feel to become a better version of yourself.
This belief is not just important to me but to everyone else, because being wrong just proves you have the courage to learn new things and ideas, and learning is the thing you will do the most in your life, so why fear being wrong if it means you get to learn?
Learning new things is always the best option, so don’t let the fear of being wrong get in the way of that.
August 12, 2024 at 11:40 pm
So true. A lot of people are afraid to say something or do something that might be wrong when in some cases it is right. Never be afraid to say what you think because you could be right but if you are wrong then you will learn the right answer.
August 10, 2024 at 1:36 pm
Dimitri V
The idea of success, and what it means to be successful, or prosperous is one belief that has changed as I’ve gotten older. Obtaining high amounts of money, getting good grades in school, having a respectable job. These were all rough ideas that I believed made someone successful. This belief originated from what surrounded me as I grew up. The tv shows I watched, the people I spoke with, even my own teachers. I had believed that to be happy you would need to be successful, and this success could only be achieved with the ideas mentioned earlier. As I have grown older, I now know this could not be farther from the truth. One particular event that changed the way I thought about success was a vacation I took to the island of Saint Michael. While there I practically lived as a resident, and got to experience the island as someone from an outside perspective. Most living on the Azores archipelago of Portugal lacked wealth. But for some reason, a 13 year old me, questioned why these impoverished residents were always smiling. The answer to this question I now know stems from what success really means. Success doesn’t care about how much money you have, or how you did academically in school. The true meaning of success is dependent on an individual’s own aspiration, ideas, goals, values, and point of purpose. The idea of success to some people can be getting rich, and having people respect you, and that wouldn’t be wrong. However, those who are poor, and struggling can also be successful, as long as that’s what they truly believe.
August 12, 2024 at 6:19 am
I agree with this. Success in itself is such a variable concept that entirely depends on one’s own goals. These goals vastly vary from person to person, so it’s interesting to see what people consider their own success.
August 10, 2024 at 10:58 pm
Katelyn A
There has always been a belief that my mother has instilled in me ever since I was a child. She has always told me, “good things come to those who wait”. There have been many experiences in my life where I have wanted something right in that moment, however I have learned that patience and hard work can lead to so many great things. It could have been as little as me wanting to open a gift on Christmas Eve, to applying to colleges hoping and praying I will get accepted. This belief has been questionable at times, as not everything that comes with hard work happens as one would expect. However, in my opinion, that just means there is something even better to work for. An example for my personal life is this college. I am going for a nursing degree. Although it is going to be four years of persistent studying and endless stressful nights, when I have that degree in my hand, there are going to be so many doors open for me. So many opportunities at my fingertips open for me to explore my new world.
Earlier, I mentioned that it is my mother who has taught me this belief throughout my life. There has been a very specific example that she has always stood by, and that is her having children. My parents were unable to have children in the natural process. Therefore, they drove about two hours every week, to check in with a doctor about in vitro fertilization. They did this for six years. There was one point where my mom did get pregnant, however she unfortunately lost it not long after. Fortunately, on the sixth try, my mom was pregnant with my brother and I. She has always told us that we are the best thing that has ever happened to her, and I do not know what I would do without my mom and dad. They are the best role models I could ever look up to.
Instead of rushing to the destination, good things will always come to those who patiently embrace the journey.
August 11, 2024 at 7:24 pm
Sadie F
Life is full of challenges that test us in many ways. Whether it’s with friends, family, a tough situation at work, or something unexpected, facing these obstacles is important for our growth and success. Part of facing obstacles is persevering through them even when things are hard or take longer than expected. We are taught to keep going and build resilience, which helps us deal with the tough times. Every time we get through a challenge, we grow stronger and more confident, making it easier to handle whatever comes next.
Facing obstacles also teaches us important lessons. It pushes us to think outside the box and come up with new solutions, which can lead to big breakthroughs. When we overcome a challenge, we learn more about what we can do and where we need to improve. Every time I face a challenge, I feel stuck and often think on the negative side of things. I usually think things won’t get better, but then I tell myself that thinking negatively is what makes the challenges worse.
Perseverance is often what separates success from failure. By not giving up, failures can turn into learning experiences that prepare you for your next challenge. In short, obstacles aren’t just problems; they’re opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed. By facing challenges and not giving up, we become stronger and wiser. When things get tough, perseverance is the best thing you can do. Keep moving forward, and the effort will pay off in the end.
August 12, 2024 at 4:38 pm
I agree with this 100%. Times do tough and we do run into obstacles. There are sometimes where we want to give up but don’t and we push through it. But we have to always remember these things happen because they are meant to teach us lessons and help us grow. They are meant to push us to do new things that we may be out of our comfort zones! You put this into a great choice of words!
August 11, 2024 at 7:29 pm
Nina D.
I always had the belief that hard work is one of the major keys to success. Growing up, my parents ingrained the idea into my head that dedication and resolution would eventually lead to me achieving my goals. I worked hard throughout high school, jobs, and relationships convincing myself that if I pushed myself enough, success and high results were sure to come. This belief has guided me through countless challenges, like when I took a gap year after graduation to focus on myself, and has been a driving force behind my performance in life and in my own self-confidence.
A prime example of this is that I’ve been working since the moment I turned fourteen. Now nineteen, hard work is just a normal part of life. Getting up in the early morning and working long shifts taught me that real life after school is not going to be easy and you need to persevere through it even when it gets intense. I remember at my current job when I first started, I didn’t exactly know how to do my job as it was my first time in that job title. Not knowing anyone at the same time, I was nervous just going to work in fear that I would mess something up. After some time, I realized, at the end of the day, this is a job, I need to try. Ask questions when you’re confused, help others if they need help, don’t just stand around doing nothing. Even when I had no idea what I was doing I would persevere through it. And now, after working there for almost a year, I am one of their best employees, all because of hard work and dedication.
August 12, 2024 at 6:08 am
Ryan P.
Hard work and dedication pays off.. or at least it should, right? I have spent my entire life under the notion that success and fame are bestowed upon those who demonstrate their worth. Everyone enters this world hoping to become successful one day, but is it really dependent on their work ethic? Are there other factors that determine one’s direction?
Over the course of my life, I never really took school that seriously. When I was younger, I failed to see the purpose in completing an endless stream of assignments. If anything, I saw it as a massive wall that stopped me from doing what I enjoyed, but that’s just how every kid saw school. Once high school rolled around, I noticed other students around me kick it up a notch, as the path for their future began to solidify. For me, I never had that spark of realization. Nearing the end of high school, I began to regret my choices. Seeing my peers get accepted to Ivy League schools means that they are bound to become successful.. right? Does diligence necessarily guarantee a fulfilled future? This idea stuck with me, and got me thinking. What truly contributes to one’s success?
Dedication and hard work are regarded seriously when it comes to my community. Everybody is striving to become the best version of themselves, and that sometimes requires making some sacrifices and tough choices. It’s important for us to recognize the effects of our effort, because our futures entirely depends on it. In the end, what truly distinguishes ourselves from the ones around us?
August 13, 2024 at 6:52 pm
Your essay is very well written and contemplative. I think it’s an interesting way to look at the individualistic differences each person has in their path to succeed.
August 12, 2024 at 4:19 pm
Hailey.S
For my blog post I chose to write about an obstacle I had to overcome this year. It was a quick decision but not anything unexpected. In early July I had brain surgery to implant a device called the RNS, the RNS system is a treatment for adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Your doctor personalizes it to respond to your brain activity, delivering the treatment you need, when you need it. Me and my family didn’t have much time to prepare for the surgery, we had talked to many doctors about it thinking we would have a good amount of time to mentally prepare for the RNS surgery. When we were discussing whether we thought it would be a good idea for me to follow through with it, one of my nurses told us to make an appointment because they book far in advance. We contacted their office to book a date for surgery, despite uncertainty, as my nurse advised us to cancel if we’re not comfortable with it. The receptionist offered a scheduled appointment for July 2nd or October, but October was unavailable due to future events. I chose to remain calm and stress-free before the surgery, despite the stress and questions from my family. They felt comfortable meeting with the surgeon and his team in person, as it allowed me to follow through with the procedure. From that appointment we finalized the decision to have the surgery.
Fast forward to July 2nd, the day of the surgery, there were a lot of emotions going on between me and my family. Before the surgery there was a significant increase in fear, sadness, and anxiety, which went away after the procedure. The implant wouldn’t be fully setup for about a year because they have to program it to my brain and fully understand when the seizures are coming . After the surgery I started recovery in the hospital for 2 days then 2 weeks on bed rest from home. I was able to do more after the 2 weeks were up. I slowly gained strength back as time went on and was able to do more activities and not be stuck inside the house. I went back to my regular routine. Choosing to do this surgery could have been the best decision I’ve made, or it could have been for nothing and the obstacle of not knowing which one is going to happen is nerve-racking. My obstacle was overcoming fear of not knowing what it could lead to. Would you have done this knowing you wouldn’t know the results for a year?
August 12, 2024 at 4:33 pm
Arianna R.
I believe that you always need to believe in yourself even when times are tough and you feel like you can’t. Sometimes you have to persevere through obstacles that you feel like you can’t get through. You always should put your mind to something that you want to accomplish even if you fail. If you fail that’s okay you just need to get back up again and try. You don’t need to try right away but you will need to try again at some point, because if you fail and not try again you will never know if you could achieve that goal. I experienced a time like this during my senior year where I wanted to stop trying when school got hard, but I put my head to it and pushed myself to become better at what I was learning. I kept on telling myself this is for my future and that I had to keep on trying. That helped me a lot. I may not be the best at some things, but I can always say I tried. I want to push myself to do my absolute best in everything I do in college. I will take what I learned throughout my life and use it to help guide me through nursing school. When times are rough I will not give up, but I will try harder. I want to be my best self. I want to succeed greatly in life. But most importantly I want to believe in myself more when school gets hard. I want to never not believe in myself because I know that I am capable of anything I put my mind to. I will dedicate my next 4 years to school and studying so I can have a lifetime of happiness.
August 13, 2024 at 2:33 pm
This was very well written and thought out. I agree with this because failure is a frequent part of life and the only way to make progress is to keep trying. I will also be majoring in nursing so learning how to persevere when the going gets tough is essential. Also persevering through failures is a skill that will be used through everyone’s life so it’s best to learn it as soon as possible. This was a very good topic and post!
August 12, 2024 at 5:26 pm
Travis W.
When in the mention of beliefs people tend to think in the realm of spiritual, moral, and political views; chalking it up to certain categorized hopes that are shared between many others and that tend to stay solid throughout our lives. Still, people go through every day reliving a cycle and can only cling to said beliefs hoping for something to improve or just come naturally. I don’t believe this is how the world works. In order to see change you need to actively challenge your ideals, making wrong or right decisions, and going through trial and error to advance yourself. This realization is fairly new to me and made me question myself about what I want for my family, friends, and for the communities I am a part of or will become a part of. An illustration of this I can currently think of is just the enrollment of myself at UMass Dartmouth for Computer Science since in order to have what I want, I need to work for it. When in the application process I grasped that this isn’t like an upgraded high school but my career and I need to not only work towards a letter grade, I need to shape my future. I can’t just get by in class, but I need to accel and make my own opportunities for those around me. Finally it felt like I had started my role in something bigger and I needed to change. Since then I feel like I have and will continue to challenge my beliefs for not just myself, but for a community that can’t have me just sitting around.
August 26, 2024 at 6:32 pm
I agree with you, breaking out of your comfort zone is key to progressing as a person and as a contributor to society.
August 12, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Padrick S.
Every Thing we do must be paid for. What i mean by that is that we must work for everything we gain whether by getting earings like money or by gaining something like fame or an achievement. This is the reason we work or got school so we might achieve something that is worth gain.
Through this there are road blocks or obstacles which keep us from gaining this thing or achievement. For me this was my Oma (grandmother) dying it set me back as she was always there for me she pushed me through her love to achieve things to gain that which lyes before us. I felt like a bridge to the other side fell when my Oma died but she would have wanted me to rebuild the bridge better and to push on. Like me many other deal with a loss but through this those who we love will help us push through those obstacles and persevere to the goal.My Oma through everything she dealt with wanted the end goal of graduation from high school. Though she was not able to physically see it her teachings of perseverence through obstacles pushed me to the goal.
Hard work and perseverance is what pays for the goals or earning we want and with out this and the conquering of obstacles everything in life is unattainable as s everything has a price and hard work with perseverance is the payment for these achievements. Hard work is the most valuable thing we posses it is the thing we are all born regardless were we were born or lived.
August 13, 2024 at 1:03 pm
Julien B.
Growing up, most kids are taught that we have to be perfect whether that is in school, sports, health, looks, etc. Although we were taught that, as we grow up we start to recognize mistakes are okay as long as we learn and adapt. As a child/teenager, the mindset of being perfect forces us to carry a lot of weight on our shoulders that isn’t needed. Nobody is ideal, but we try to be the best we can. I remember coming home after bad football games and being mad at the world because I wasn’t the best or I felt as if my parents weren’t proud of me. Even in school when I came home with a bad test grade I just felt like a failure. Everything had to be perfect or else I wasn’t a good son, friend, teammate, classmate, or student. Looking back now I wish I could have told my younger self it is okay to struggle. Struggle is what makes the beast. How would you know how to solve a problem if you have never been in one? Now that I am aware of this, every time I get into a situation I make sure to relax, be patient, and find the best possible solution. For example, early in my senior season of high school, I injured my knee in a football game. Although I was mad, upset, and disappointed in the moment; I knew all I needed was time and I’d be right back on the field. After 2 weeks of treatment and physical therapy, I was right back on the field doing what I love. Moving on, I will always remember that setbacks are bound to happen, but we must take our time with the comeback. There is no better feeling than to overcome a battle.
August 13, 2024 at 3:33 pm
Well said. People get so caught up in their mistakes. It is refreshing when you realize this about life.
August 13, 2024 at 2:18 pm
Lucca P.
When I was three years old, my parents separated and my father took my brother and I to Brazil. At that time I was just a child so I didn’t really know what was happening, I didn’t have a chance to choose whether I wanted to stay or go with my father. In Brazil we have an immense diversity of races, but we had one thing in common, everyone spoke Portuguese. It was hard to find someone who didn’t speak Portuguese, at least in the city where I grew up.
As time went by, I discovered something that everyone at some point in their life discovers, racism. However, it was different, I discovered racism through study, I was never a victim or saw anyone being victimized.
In 2022 I made a difficult decision, to return to the United States, abandon all my friends and go to a country that I didn’t even know the language to speak. After a while adapting, I started working, I was already fluent after 6 months of living here. Unfortunately, here I discovered a new type of racism, it wasn’t just reading and watching the news, it was around me. Because I’m Latin American, many people didn’t talk to me, or assumed I spoke Spanish. My first job was in a market, and in that market more than half of the people didn’t speak English. It’s incredible how much these people suffer from people who don’t understand that they are also human beings, just with a different culture.
It was a break from reality, leaving a place where the people are so united and arriving in a place where prejudice is huge. But I don’t let that get me down, in just two years living in the US I learned English, got promoted at my job and went to college to play football, a sport we don’t have in Brazil and I still fell in love with it. Little by little I’m showing everyone that it doesn’t matter where you come from, just how much you want to chase your dreams.
August 13, 2024 at 2:18 pm
Marcus R.
All it took was one week-one week in this new position to open my eyes to this reality. I had just started out as a swimming instructor, a job that had intrigued me for a while. Prior to teaching I believed that all my students would have some swimming ability and my job was to simply help them build off of what they already could do. This belief swiftly changed during my first week of shadowing an instructor. On my first day some students were terrified of the water, some burst into tears, and some had never been in a pool. One student named Henry had never been in the water before, according to his mother. When all my students started getting in the water, tears started to roll down his face and he grabbed onto me. I had to hold Henry for the majority of the class because any attempt he made to swim, he immediately sank. Henry was only one example that raised my astonishment at the lack of swimming ability among children.
After my first week I discerned how important water safety and basic swimming skills are. Prior to this job I believed basic water safety and swimming skills didn’t need to be taught, assuming everyone had those skills. Now my belief is the opposite, that every child and adult needs to be taught what to do or not do around bodies of water or a pool. Additionally everyone should be able to at least swim a small distance on their own and be able to stand up in water if they fall down. Even people that don’t swim often should have these abilities, because anyone can drown. However, everyone is able to learn how to swim. You need to think about how many tragedies we can prevent if we ensure everyone has basic swimming knowledge and ability.
August 13, 2024 at 3:31 pm
Saxon A.
I have sifted through many friend groups over the years. Some ended on bad terms, some drifted away, and few remained my best of friends. Since I graduated high school this past June, it has left me looking back over the years at all these relationships that have come and gone. There were many rough patches, and there were more rough moments than happy moments. After everything I have seen, experienced, and felt in my journey of growing up and finding my friends, a classic belief I honestly think is the most important for not only our generation to prioritize, but the entire world would be, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” The real struggle starts in middle school. It is especially difficult when you are not the most social person. It is not always someone new either, sometimes it is a rekindling connection.
Regardless of the origin of the friendship; nine times out of ten they are not a faithful friend. I have been through the cliche of being a doormat just to keep someone around. It is not a good feeling. constantly feeling beat down and like there is no scenario in your life without that person even though they treat you awfully. I struggled with this especially in middle school. It left me constantly sad. I felt like something was wrong with me. Fast forward six years later to today. I am much stronger and have grown for one reason or another. but the pain from those memories leaves a scar, so I say it again, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” I hope if anyone ever sees this when they are struggling at that component of life, they can realize their worth and keep that kind of energy clear from their life.
August 13, 2024 at 6:41 pm
Amelia S.
Dear Little Me,
You’re sweet and innocent, unknowing of everything you’ll discover as you age and mature. You view the world and all of the perfect little strangers in it through rose-colored glasses. You’ve always been taught to do unto others. That you treat people the way you want to be treated.
As you learn and grow, you’ll notice that these beliefs and morals that have been instilled in you are going to differ in others. You’ll see people around you be cruel and exhibit all of the traits you had believed were only true in fairy tale villains crafted by the imagination.
You believe in the benefit of the doubt. Even though many people have shown you that they didn’t deserve it, that doesn’t mean no one does. Keep seeing the glass half full, and never change who you are because of the cruelty of others.
Despite the fact that some people are cruel and unkind, it is not a vast majority. You’ll see that your kindness will attract others of a similar nature.
You’ll realize that holding steadfast to your morality, ideals, and beliefs will help you to advance through trying times and also aid others to progress through challenges.
Some people will want to take advantage, but most will appreciate your efforts to act as a ray of sunshine for those around you.
Continue to stay true to yourself, and always remember to not only make others smile, but to smile for yourself.
Warm regards,
Future You.
August 31, 2024 at 2:01 am
This perspective of a hand written letter to a younger self is super interesting and I feel you used it well in order to simplify the complex concepts of morality and differing values into a more palatable message.
I like the more causal and simplified language, its clear that there was much thought put into your word choice, as a younger you would need simpler sentence structures in order to keep up.
Good hook to begin with, immediately gets the reader interested in the further information contained within the letter, and great cyclical ending that reminds the younger self to continue being sweet and innocent but also maintain a higher level of awareness to keep thyself well cared for.
Congrats on excellently written blog post!
August 13, 2024 at 10:14 pm
Chloe L.
I was always told to enjoy life because it was too short, especially during high school. I overlooked it because I was young and thought I had all the time in the world to do that. It wasn’t until I developed my eating disorder that I realized just how short life was. When all you think about is food, you lose track of time. Slowly, days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months and years. Overcoming an eating disorder was an immensely challenging and transformative journey that completely changed my outlook on life. Having struggled for a long time, I experienced firsthand the debilitating effects it had on both my physical and mental well-being.
The experience of overcoming an eating disorder taught me the value of resilience and self-compassion. It made me realize the destructive power of negative self-perception and the importance of seeking help and opening up about my struggles. This journey also reshaped my perspective on life, fostering a deep sense of gratitude and empathy. It taught me to appreciate life’s little joys and prioritize self-care and mental well-being. I realized there was so much more to life than what I looked or how people perceived me, and indeed, just how short life was. I realized how little of my life I had lived when I was sick and how much of myself I had lost in the process. Since recovering, I have prioritized living a life I enjoy and taking the time to slow down and live more in the moment. I can’t undo how much time was taken from me by my eating disorder, but I can make sure to live life to the fullest to make up for it now.
August 15, 2024 at 1:00 am
Chloe, I really resonate with your ideas on how hardship and mental health affect our perceptions of time and the desire to reclaim the time we still have.
August 13, 2024 at 11:07 pm
Carl C.
I always thought that a person with motivation but no discipline is a fool. Motivation helps you start but discipline makes you achieve. It is vital to success in almost all areas of life from that which ensures personal development, or educational achievement and ultimately career progression It is discipline that helps people through procrastination, remain focused, and weather the storm during difficult times.
Discipline can go a long way in helping you manage your time and your resources properly. A disciplined individual who has set clear goals and planned the way to reach them will be able to remain focused on these objectives, prioritising his activities in order not to waste any time with unproductive actions. Which in fact results in better productivity and efficiency enabling them to do more with less.
Discipline is an essential quality that will enable people to meet obstacles, realise achievements and live life. This means being clear about what you want, not giving into instant gratification and continually striving to reach those goals. It is through discipline people get the skills of self-discipline, persistence and endurance which are often required to be well successful in life. Discipline is often viewed as boring and annoying , but it actually results in more freedom and autonomy because people are forced to rely less on others for support to make their dreams come true. To make a long story short, we have seen that discipline is the magnifying and polishing glass for people to reach their limitless potential in what they do with heartless fulfilment. Do you think you are disciplined enough?
August 14, 2024 at 12:54 am
Lune R, 8/13/24
I believe traveling the world is good because it lets you get a perspective of other people’s lives/cultures. Dealing with new places and customs helps you get better at solving problems and handling challenges. Each trip teaches you to adapt and be more resourceful, making you more open-minded and understanding.
My experience in Cartagena, Colombia, the touristy side, you can see colorful painted buildings, gorgeous views, nice balconies with gardens, beautiful beaches and lots of dancing. On the local community side there are many poor people, there is a lack of water, no jobs, very unsanitary conditions and people are suffering. This difference makes some question whether tourism genuinely helps all local communities or not.
Another experience was when I went to Japan, I had to learn the difficult train system and all other modes of transportation which was very challenging, learning the money conversion was hard enough and the language barrier was another problem I had, so it taught me to adapt to the environment and circumstances I had to face.
Exposure to new environments and ways of life often pushes you out of your comfort zone. This can lead to personal growth, increased adaptability, and a broader worldview. Navigating unfamiliar places and dealing with different customs can enhance your problem-solving skills and resilience, each new experience requires adaptability and resourcefulness.
What trips have you been on and what problems did you face during your stay in said place?
August 15, 2024 at 2:51 pm
I completely agree that travel improves every aspect of one’s mind and life. As a first-gen American-Brazilian, traveling to my mom’s home country exposed me to many points of view I never would have seen in my small, backcountry town. Through my childhood experiences, I understand how my incorrect cultural assumptions can help me expand the way I perceive the world—both the good and the bad.
One time, when I was coming back from visiting my family in Brazil, I was stopped at the border in São Paulo. I was traveling with just my mom for the second time in my life, and we were told to present the document signed by my dad granting her permission to travel with me. In Brazil, a dual-citizenship child under 17 cannot travel with only one parent without permission from the other. My mom and I were directed to the office of the airport police, where we waited for my dad to answer his phone (at four AM), arrive at the Brazilian Embassy in Boston (two hours away from our house), sign the document (after waiting in a very long line), and transfer it internationally to the airport police (by email, thankfully). Two years ago, when I first traveled with only my mom, I didn’t need this document; this time, I was barred from leaving Brazil because of my lack of it.
It was definitely an adventure, being stopped at the border for something we didn’t previously need. As we were waiting, I asked my mom why it was so important to have this document signed. She wouldn’t answer me, not until we left the office, documents in hand. When she did, she gestured through the glass walls at a woman and a six-year-old girl that had been standing directly next to us, arguing with the police about the same document. “That girl isn’t her daughter,” my mom said in English. Then I understood why that document was such a big deal.
Be it a complicated train system or international laws, each country and culture has its different behaviors and values. The first step to making a positive impact is through empathizing with those who are impacted by the unsavory aspects of it—even if it means getting wildly out of our comfort zones!
August 14, 2024 at 2:15 am
Happy Z.
In this modern era, technology has significantly developed over the past few decades, along with many new forms of entertainment ranging from various video games, game consoles, online videos, virtual reality, and many more. Due to the many choices people have, it becomes quite an obstacle when thinking about what to do in their free time or with others regarding relaxation and entertainment. Thinking about what to do has always been an intriguing part of my day, whether I should eat, where I should go, how I should plan my future, or what I should write this blog on. Planning these things out ahead can help me feel more fulfilled than if I try to think of something on the spot and end up not doing much for the whole day. A great example of this is when I hang out with my friends; We’ll often group chat or get in group calls with each other either a few days before or on the day we want to hang on. Usually, one of two scenarios will happen: someone has a plan everyone can roll with, and another is nobody has any plans. Still, we all decided to hang out anyway. In the first scenario, our group can get through the day doing what we planned and adjust anything while hanging out. In the ladder scenario, our group will do nothing much and use our phones most of the day. This is why I believe that planning things out is always important. Even if you don’t end up going through with your original plan, having a plan is better than not having a plan.
August 15, 2024 at 10:00 pm
I totally agree. With so many entertainment choices now, having a plan can really help make the most of your free time. Without a plan, it’s easy to end up wasting time or doing nothing much. Even if plans change, having something to start with makes things more enjoyable.
August 14, 2024 at 4:45 am
Jack S.
When I was 11 years old and sitting in my 5th grade gym class, every day I’d have the worst headache I’ve ever had, getting worse and worse by the week. Finally I convinced my Mom to schedule a MRI for me. After the MRI I had to go to update medical in Syracuse New York. They told me I had a cyst pushing against my brain and pushing my brain against my skull. They scheduled me for brain surgery. After the surgery I was able to persevere and get home the next day and be home for easter. I had to miss out on my entire lacrosse season that year and when I went back to my doctor they told me I may never be able to play sports again, football my favorite one I was told I’d never play agin. I worked making sure I would recover correctly and be able to compete in August for my 6th grade season.
I worked for it, and when I went back up for my 5 month check up they gave me the go head to play again, it was the best feeling I could ever feel knowing I would be able to play the game I love and still love, now im here about to enter college and continue playing the game I love. From being told ill never play again to being able to play in college I think I beat the challenge God put in front of me
August 14, 2024 at 2:44 pm
Collins B.
I believe that if you are persistent, you can do anything you set your mind to. This belief became central to my mindset going into my senior year of high school. Growing up, math had never been a daunting subject for me—test scores came easily, and I rarely struggled. That is, until my senior year when I decided to challenge myself by taking a statistics course. Even though the class was mostly logic and theory rather than formulas, I still figured it would be a good way to push myself out of my comfort zone.
When I took my first test, I was confident. I thought that my usual approach to math would secure me a good grade; it did not. My score was much lower than I had hoped, but instead of letting that discourage me, I decided to change my approach. I started spending time after school with my teacher, watching online tutorials and reviewing textbook materials. After months of mediocre test results, I finally scored a 95 on a test. That moment reaffirmed that not only had my persistence paid off, but the course content which once seemed impossible to understand, was something that I could learn.
Perseverance is an essential skill to learn because life is going to be full of disappointments, bad days, and unexpected setbacks. College, for example, will challenge us to grow mentally, academically, and emotionally. Being perseverant despite the struggles of this new environment will help us overcome obstacles and remind us that success often comes after multiple attempts.
Let’s embrace the challenge and stay persistent, so we keep moving forward.
August 14, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Kai Panori (they/them)
I spent years trapped in the Kingdom of Normal. Oppressed by expectation, fearing lying futures… I wanted to give up—to wade into the flowing, far-off ocean, only to be unable to escape its ebb. I nearly did, once; I scaled the Kingdom’s wall and tipped into the whitecaps.
Then, I encountered a paradox: I wanted to sink (and I did), but I didn’t want to drown. With my feet impossibly rooted to the shifting sand of the seafloor, I found a spark inside me that refused to be doused in saltwater; I remembered my light and love for life.
I separated oxygen from hydrogen to breathe through the pressure of that new reality. Though I wanted to close my eyes on my abnormal existence forever, they adjusted to the darkness, and I saw the path before me; I wiggled my feet out of the undertow and walked away from Normal. I wanted depths and found them (and later discovered there exist deeper trenches).
I cannot know what lies ahead, but I journey through impossibility to confidently be who I am: inquisitive, understanding, outspoken, thoughtful, humble, and proud. I am a walking juxtaposition of existence, reveling in my every facet.
When I find myself breaching the surface and crossing continents, I remember: I have learned to walk through tides and I will learn to walk through tempests. I believe in myself, in being who I am, despite what the Kingdom of Normal expects me to be.
I believe in defying definitions.
August 14, 2024 at 3:46 pm
Jace C.
When I was younger, I took on a lot of challenges by myself, thinking that was the best way to do it. I used to believe that I would have to do stuff all on my own and that asking for help from my family, friends, or teachers was a weakness. I got to high school and realized that I did need help. It started in freshman year when I decided to step out of my comfort zone and take an Astronomy class. I was really into space then (I still am if I’m being honest) so I thought it would be fun to take. The class started and I realized how challenging the class actually was for me. I was too embarrassed to tell anybody that I was struggling, so I just kept pushing on. I just didn’t want people to think that I was stupid and weak for asking for help. As time went on, my mom could tell that something was up, so she asked me many times if I was having a hard time in the class. Once I admitted it to her, I felt SO terrible, stupid, and embarrassed. She reassured me that it’s ok to ask and accept help. Ever since then, I’ve felt so much better when it comes to asking and accepting help. I’ll admit it, I had a little trouble at first accepting help. Now I believe that having other people help me is a positive thing, not a weakness. Now, coming into a new situation and environment, I have to seriously think about if I’m going to go back to my old ways or not. I think that not only me, but others coming into Umass Dartmouth should not be afraid to ask for help. I’ve learned that sometimes when you ask a question in front of a group, that someone else there actually has the same question, but is too afraid to ask it. I spent a lot of time in my early life waiting for someone else to ask the question. Now, I’m the person who asks the question even if I know the answer, because someone else might be confused and scared to ask it. If it weren’t for my mom pushing me to ask for help more, I would still be stuck in my old ways sitting in confusion. I like to think that sometimes others around you see things about you that you don’t see. Even right now writing this blog, I’m asking for some help. I wasn’t really sure what direction I wanted to go with it, but I didn’t let myself just stay there. My mom and I bounced ideas off of each other and then I took off writing. Having other people around you that support you is an amazing part of life.
The last thing I want to leave you with is this:
Have you ever been in a situation where you were scared to ask a question in front of a group, due to judgment?
August 14, 2024 at 6:34 pm
Kelcy-Rae M.
Being the youngest of three successful siblings had its ups and downs. I enjoyed being the baby of the family and being spoiled. But as I got older, things changed. My parents would often compare me to my siblings. And pressure me to be the best in everything just like they were. I wasn’t too interested in playing sports before high school. All of my siblings played sports. So I knew that once high school started I had to. When I started playing volleyball I began to enjoy it more than I thought. It was the perfect distraction that I needed from the world. I overheard some coaches comparing me to my older sisters. They would say “Her sister never did that” or “Her sister was much better at that”. Ultimately, I began to lose my confidence. Volleyball was becoming my escape and hearing that made me want to stop playing altogether.
Although, my freshman year and sophomore year were great. In my junior year, I tried out for varsity. I thought this was the year that I’d finally make the team considering that I’ve been putting the work in. Unfortunately, I was placed back on the junior varsity team for the second time. My heart was broken, and I felt like I was hitting rock bottom. I didn’t know how to express myself, so I just shut down. I avoided going to practice, and when I did go I never spoke. I was so embarrassed and upset at myself. Why did others make it and I didn’t? I was better than them, I thought to myself. I thought I was doing all the right things. When my sisters asked if I made the team, I couldn’t even get the words out. If I was disappointed in myself, I couldn’t imagine how they would feel hearing the news. I felt that no matter how hard I tried, I always ended up alone and drowning in my thoughts. Even though I was in such a dark place, deep down I wanted to prove myself and others wrong. When my senior year came along, I was constantly practicing. I joined an off-season team and worked on new skills. I knew that if I didn’t make the team this year, I would end up where I was the year before.
Even though it would be my last year playing volleyball, I wanted to give it another try. When it came time for tryouts, I put my best foot forward. Three days later, I crossed my fingers as I opened an email stating I made the team. I was more than excited and so ready to get in the gym and start practicing. Our first couple of games were great, and we had a continuous winning streak. The confidence that I once lost was all coming back thanks to the friends that I made along the way. And the support that I’ve never felt from my siblings. I was happy again. This experience showed me that hitting rock bottom was one of the greatest gifts that I could ever receive. It taught me that perseverance involves determination and the willingness to continue striving toward a goal despite the challenges. It let me be open to change and helped me gain an appreciation for life in ways that I never thought I would.
August 14, 2024 at 7:02 pm
Mason M
Going through life I always believed you get what you deserve whether that be karma, hard work, or good fortune. I was taught that if you work hard enough for something, you will get it. If I put the hours and the work in I would be successful in what I wanted. I always loved basketball and worked really hard to be good while maybe wanting to play in college. As time went by I got some Division 3 offers but none stuck out to me so decided to stay close to home and come here for college. My love faded, after playing in college being my main goal all of a sudden something changed. After winning 3 playoff games in a row last season, my team and I went to Umass Boston to play the back to back MIAA division 2 champs, Malden catholic. In the final four, we came out slow but ended up playing hard against a team much bigger and honestly better. They got foul call after foul call but we persevered the whole game. We out hustled them and wanted it more as the game progressed until we find ourselves down 2 points coming out of a timeout with 2 seconds left and our ball in the half court. They knew our originally play so we went a different route, set a screen for me and I make something happen. I come off the screen catch the ball behind the 3 point line, I fake a shot then shoot it as time runs out. I missed the shot, when going up I had 3 defenders on me and all of which had hit me while shooting. I should’ve gotten fouled, I should’ve gotten to shoot free throws, I should’ve won the game for my team. I was so proud to be there captain and to get to play with them and I wanted to win the state championship for everyone around me. That is when I knew that not everything is fair and you don’t always get what you deserve. For a long time the “what if” haunted me and was all I could think about. It was the hardest thing I had to deal with but also ended up being the best thing for me. This obstacle led me to see how putting my future in someone else’s hands isn’t going to work out. If I want to be successful I cannot allow my family, friends, or in this case some referees dictate how my life goes. I need to go out and live my life to the best of my ability and leave nothing up for chance. I will not judge myself or others by where we are standing, but by how far we have come from where we have started our journey to be great.
August 14, 2024 at 7:54 pm
My name is Morgan P, and I was surprised when I came to believe that perseverance is not just about pushing through, but about finding strategies that work for me, especially when living with ADHD.
Growing up with ADHD I often saw perseverance as a constant push to overcome a certain obstacle, a relentless push against any challenges. This view was instilled in me through the TV shows and stories I read as a kid, but when it came to my own experiences it didn’t feel like it fit. I struggled academically, feeling frustrated and defeated when my efforts didn’t yield the same results as my classmates around me.
The turning point came during a particularly grueling essay in high school. Despite how much work I tried to put into it my ADHD made it incredibly difficult to stay focused and organized. At first, I tried to persevere by doubling down and forcing myself to just get it done, but the more I pushed the more overwhelmed I felt.
It was only after having a conversation with my mother about how I was struggling that my perspective began to shift. She told me not to try to do it all at once and to instead break it into smaller chunks and incorporate short breaks. The methods that she told me to use didn’t just help me complete the project they transformed my understanding of perseverance. I realized that perseverance wasn’t about enduring my difficulties the same way as others, but it was adapting and figuring out what worked best for me.
This belief matters to our UMassD community because it encourages a more inclusive and understanding approach to challenges. Recognizing that perseverance can be personalized creates an environment where students with ADHD and other learning differences are supported in their journeys.
If Perseverance is about adapting to what works best for each individual, how can we better support each other in finding our paths to success?
August 14, 2024 at 8:54 pm
Michaela F
A belief that has changed while on my growth journey is that “life is what you make it.” People often question life itself and the most common question would be “Why does it have to be me? Or why this always happens to me?” So often it’s always this comment “My life is a joke” or something similar and worse than this. In the meantime, while all these questions remained unanswered and while these comments become more popular, we never seem to care enough to align our life to these questions and the comments, as for what is missing and why am I questioning life? Is my life going in the direction I want it to? Do I apply principles to my life properly the main focus should be how can I make life worthy of something by aligning principles and consistency and how to make the most out of life. Furthermore, I believe in “life is what you make it” in my junior year in high school. I had to move to another city where I knew no one, changed school, and adapt to a new lifestyle. I thought it was going to be hard in my head because it wasn’t only a new city, but also a new neighborhood, new people, and overall a new environment but, I started to adapt to this life, made friends, made new connections. To continue, I didn’t get scared or shout at the world or even question life because at a time in life, everything felt so quiet, I was lonely but made something good of that loneliness. I created a new life with great memories. Once again I made life worthy to keep going.
Your life is miserable or do you just lack principle?
August 14, 2024 at 8:58 pm
Cooper B.
Overcoming obstacles and challenges can be difficult but it can be done. It all starts with having the right mindset and telling yourself that you can do anything you put your mind to. When I was younger, I would often find myself giving up on something whenever it became too difficult. I would tell myself I can’t do it or its too difficult and just give up. I started to realize this needed to change because I was going to inevitably encounter tough challenges and obstacles in my life that I would have to find a way to get through. I started by changing my mindset and telling myself I can do anything I put my mind to. I started to persevere whenever I was faced with tough challenges and obstacles. Tough challenges in my life have ranged from things like facing difficult tests that I needed to pass to overcoming my fear of learning how to drive. While overcoming these obstacles was still not easy; by changing my mindset I was able to conquer them and not be afraid of them. Overcoming these obstacles in my life has made me realize that nothing is impossible and if you want to do something you should do it. You shouldn’t shy away from your goals in life just because they are tough to accomplish because if you dig down deep you can reach your goals. Some obstacles are tougher to overcome than others and will take more time to overcome but no matter how hard they are to overcome it can be done. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something because anything is possible.
August 17, 2024 at 12:33 am
I like this a lot really inspired me.
August 14, 2024 at 9:35 pm
Bryce T
Sixteen years old, failing classes, sleeping through lectures and riding the bench. I found myself feeling pitiful and stagnant in the prime of my teenage years, bounded by the shackles of an “I canʻt” frame of mind. I was my own greatest enemy, preventing myself from succeeding, entirely because I did not believe I was capable. I began to learn that my unpleasant mentality and restricting thought process were not caused by my idle lifestyle, but instead that my troubling times were a product of my lack of self-assurance. Put simply, I did not accomplish anything because I told myself I couldnʻt.
Now, eighteen years old, two-time captain of three varsity sports, top ten high school hurdler in Massachusetts, graduated, and admitted into the pre-law program at UMass Dartmouth. The most significant change between these two periods: the way I talk to myself. I have evolved my perspective and personal philosophies in order to support myself. I have found no greater motivator than the encouragement I gain from telling myself “I can”. By believing in myself I was able to become the person I wanted to be, I accomplished what i never thought was possible, and I changed the way I take on life. Heading into my first semester of college I will continue to be my own biggest cheerleader, and I encourage my peers to do the same.
August 14, 2024 at 10:27 pm
Brennan O.
One belief or saying that I have come to question is that hard work pays off. What made me think of this is my experience in work and life. Hard work is what you have to put into your work in life through perseverance and determination to reach your goal. One event that can be pinpointed in my belief would be when I would work hard in my job It stays the same every day, but some people do the same job for much less. My hard work pays off because I can be assured that I am doing a great job at work and will one day move up to be a supervisor in a few years. I think this can be important to students, teachers, and everyone alike who put in much energy every day to help others and their community with learning or living but do not get the recognition they deserve from their peers or their higher-ups in the company. Others should listen to my belief even if others do not agree because you could be in this person’s shoes one day and would want to understand what to do or say if someone is questioning if hard work pays off in the end. In the end, I believe that if you set your mind to something and keep preserving anything can be achieved but you need to remember that changes don’t happen overnight, and you need to create the change.
August 14, 2024 at 10:49 pm
Andrew C.
Everything Happens for a Reason
For most of my life, I believed that everything happens for a reason. I believed that what happens to you in your life will only develop you as an individual. I have always strived to look at the bigger picture when bad things happen and tried to tell myself that the bad experience will only help me grow as a person. However, this belief changed during the fall of my senior year in high school. During the 4th game in my varsity football season, I was chasing the opposing team’s quarterback during a play. I planted my left foot into the turf to make the tackle. While doing this my cleat got caught in the turf and I heard a pop in my knee. At first, I thought I had just badly buckled my knee. I later found out that I completely tore my ACL. Little did I know that this was the last time I would ever play the game of football.
Not being able to play football was hard for me. For the past three years, I had lived and breathed the game of football. Whether it was going to practice, watching film, or lifting weights every day after school with the team. I always wanted to play football since I was young. I was extremely disappointed in my freshman year when I did not make the team due to covid restrictions and the varsity team was the only team allowed to compete. From the second I started playing my sophomore year, I fell in love with the sport and wanted to be on the varsity team. At this point in time, I was extremely out of shape, mainly due to Quarantine. In my first offseason, I decided to hit the weightroom with the football team. I worked hard and showed up to weightroom every day. In my Junior year, I was selected as the starting Center and Defensive end on the varsity team. I had an ok season, but missed some games due to catching Covid. That offseason, I continued my focus on hitting the gym daily and working hard. I even joined winter and spring track, where I was able to participate in a decathlon.
In my senior year, I was selected as the starting Left Guard and Middle Linebacker. I was also selected as a Team Captain. I was in the best shape of my life. I truly felt unstoppable. When I got hurt, it seemed that everything that I had worked for in the last couple years was gone in an instant. I kept on asking myself “Why Me”? I always thought that everything happened for a reason, but I started questioning this belief. What could I possible gain from this experience? Between the surgery and the constant rehab, this was one of the hardest things I have ever had to overcome. Through my experiences in rehab, I was able to reflect on my experiences and learned that hard work is necessary to succeed in life. Nothing in life comes easy, and we need to continue to learn and grow from our experiences as individuals. I learned that hard work, remaining positive and being determined to achieve a goal can help you overcome any obstacle. Although you might not see it now, everything does happen for a reason. Each experience, good or bad serves as a valuable lesson about life and about ourselves.
August 14, 2024 at 10:51 pm
Camil S.
I believe that the fastest way to get through an obstacle is through unity. Unity is by far one of the easiest ways to overcome an obstacle.
Back in High School, I used to absolutely hate group projects because I’d have to rely on someone else to do their work so I could get a good grade. Most of the time I would’ve done way better without having someone else taking part of what grade I’d get for my assignment. Recently, this belief has been altered after I participated in a project at my job where we had to create a mural. Working on this mural was difficult to do when my coworkers just stopped working on it, leading me to feel demotivated to complete it. But after a few weeks everyone had decided to do their job and work on the mural, which had led us to finishing the mural 3 weeks before the showcase. Another reason my belief has been altered is during the whole college process. My mom and sister were great at assisting me in figuring out what major I’d want and if the major fit with me the best.
Unity is important to everyone because that’s how society pushes onward efficiently. Unity is how people form together and become friends, and also how families are able to stick with each other. You can still overcome an obstacle by yourself and persevere on your own but unity, with the right people, can make overcoming an obstacle a lot easier.
August 14, 2024 at 11:17 pm
Alexis H –
You are enough. These three small words are what have changed my view on the world. There have been a series of events over the past few years that have caused self doubt and judgment, from those around me. I have changed high schools three times, changed dance studios after 13 years, was abandoned by my father, and saw my mother and grandmother go through cancer. These life events happen to everybody, but not usually at the same time.
With all the changes, I had to fear having to prove myself to those around me. New environment, new faces, new morals, and I knew I had to make a good impression. A lot of people stepped up for me, but a lot of people let me down. I felt lost because everything was changing, and nothing remained a constant in my life. I like to believe I got through this because I’m a strong person, but there was really a moment where I knew I had to keep going. I eventually got through the storm and made new relationships that are lifelong. I started to find my new path, and gain the confidence that I AM ENOUGH. My message isn’t a new one. We all need to remember that we are worthy, and we are enough, no matter what we face. What have you done to help individuals in society know that they are enough? Promoting these three small words has been my mission. These words have the power to change someone’s outlook on themselves and the world. You are enough.
August 14, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Michael S.
I firmly believe that perseverance is one of the most important traits for someone to possess. Throughout your life you will continuously face challenges you may not be able to solve immediately, and that’s okay. Perseverance isn’t being able to push through every challenge head-on, it is being knocked down and being to get up and try again. I had this experience during COVID-19, the full lock downs went into effect during my freshman year of high school and I was a fully remote student at the time. I know I can’t speak for everyone but for me that was the most I have ever struggled with school, a third of the way through the year I was completely overwhelmed and had practically given up, but I didn’t give up on school as a whole. I came to terms with the fact that I would have to put in the extra work to make up for what happened through the rest of my time in high school managed to bounce back. Everyone has some type of challenge that affects them in a way that they perhaps are not able to deal with at the time but what is important is the ability to get back up and try again. If you are struggling with something currently it is okay to admit that you can’t handle it right this second, what matters most is that you try again when you think that you are ready to.
August 15, 2024 at 12:58 am
Lauren J.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”, read the comments of a TikTok post. The video showed a young girl expressing her jealousy over the lives of influencers and how badly she wished to live their life, a sentiment I myself could easily relate to. Opening the comment section I expected to see others expressing their agreement, but I was taken aback by this comment denouncing jealousy. While it is unlikely this comment came from a philosopher whose wisdom transcends generations, the words resonated with me nonetheless. However, as one does on TikTok, I scrolled on for far too long and these words were pushed to the back of my mind and not thought about for months.
In recent weeks these words have found their way to the forefront of my mind. While coping with my own anxiety I have found myself wishing to be struggling with any problem but my own. It was easier to hope to deal with the problems of someone else rather than actively cope with my own. However what I didn’t realize was that by comparing my problems to those of others I was only robbing myself of the joy I could find in what I did have and the support I had from those around me. It is impossible to solve one’s problems or cope with hardships while comparing oneself to others. Our problems can only be solved by being faced, not by being traded or compared with others, and as I’ve come to learn the comments of TikTok can occasionally provide the wisdom and guidance needed to appreciate what I have and solve any hardship.
August 15, 2024 at 1:06 am
Sholeh R.
I used to think that being successful academically was something you either have or didn’t. I began to wonder whether I wasn’t cut out for school after observing how easily most of my peers got through school while I found it difficult. I thought that no matter how hard I worked, I would never catch up. We found out I had ADHD and dyslexia just before I started middle school, but rather than being relieved, this just made me believe I would never be able to catch up to my friends. When I started middle school, I thought I would fail miserably, but meeting other students who were facing similar difficulties and succeeding began to shift my belief.
I started to understand after years of study and effort that academic achievement isn’t dependent on innate talent. It all comes down to tenacity, knowing the appropriate tactics, and having faith in your ability to get beyond the obstacles in your path. I was able to catch up because to the lessons I took each year in middle school, and I realized that my challenges actually helped me grow rather than define me.
This belief is significant to my community as a whole as well as to myself. All people have difficulties, but how we handle them defines who we are. It serves as a reminder that obstacles are surmountable and that, with the correct help and willpower, we are capable of achieving our objectives.
August 15, 2024 at 1:14 am
I’m not sure which category this best fits in so I’ll post it here. Losing a family member is a devastating experience for families. So when I lost both my father and grandmother within a few years of each other, everyone in the family was overwhelmed with grief. However, during this difficult time, l have come to understand the importance of resilience and the ability to carry on in these difficult times. I started going to therapy weekly in order to cope in a healthy way. having the option to do therapy on Zoom made it more accessible due to my busy schedule. Therapy shouldn’t be looked at as negative, it can be helpful in difficult times. I’ve come to the realization that life is not fair. The loss of my father and grandmother made me realize that life can be cruel and unpredictable. This realization has shown me ways to cope and come to terms with my loss. Experiencing loss was something that has inspired me to have a fulfilling life and make the most of the time I’m given. This belief that life is unfair and full of uncertainties is important not only for me, but also for upcoming students interacting with others who have gone through similar experiences. Recognizing that everyone encounters hardships, loss, and mental health issues can encourage empathy and resilience in our school community. Throughout high school, open communication and acceptance are encouraged. College should be similar, which is why it’s so important that mental health services and acceptance should be promoted not only at UMASS Dartmouth, these should be openly available/ recognized everywhere.
August 15, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Thank you for sharing. Mental health services are available at UMass-Dartmouth through the counseling center, and we very much encourage students to make use of these services when they are needed. Here is a link with more info: https://www.umassd.edu/counseling/
August 15, 2024 at 1:14 am
Owen Q.
As a child, I believed that the more nerdy or smart a person was, the less athletic that person could be. This led me to avoid getting involved in sports and instead I doubled down on my “nerdy” personality. My viewpoint changed when I watched my older sister get involved in sports during high school. Seeing her get involved in sports inspired me to do the same. During my junior year of high school my school joined a co-op wrestling team with a nearby school. Prior to this, I had never played a sport for any of my schools. I had always thought I was too unathletic and preferred to focus on my academics. The wrestling team being co-op meant that the practices and most of the team members would be from the other school. I saw this as the perfect opportunity to get involved in a sport without risking embarrassing myself if it turned out I was too unathletic to participate. With the support of my teammates and my family, I had the confidence to feel comfortable while wrestling. During my senior year, I joined the team again and saw significant improvement in my athleticism. Even though I wasn’t very good at the sport, trying it gave me the confidence to participate in other athletic activities. After my senior season of wrestling ended, I started playing baseball, volleyball, and other backyard sports with my friends that I would have previously avoided. It was wrestling that inspired me to have more diverse interests.
September 2, 2024 at 6:21 pm
Its always a good thing to remember that the stereotypes that other people or even yourself apply to you don’t have to be true. Good for you breaking free of that. I agree that being more diverse as a person is very important to having a balanced life and you should always keep trying to find new interests.
August 15, 2024 at 1:24 am
Katrina A.
Aug 2024
I strongly believe everything happens for a reason. You are where you are on purpose. Something is happening to you on purpose. You are here in this life for a reason. Now we may never know the reason, or we may ponder on different scenarios and wonder IF something were to happen. We as humans try so hard to change situations and the outcomes that may happen, or may even produce a worse outcome than the one intended for us. We can’t ponder about all the different scenarios that MAY happen. I currently struggle with anxiety and overthink about many things every day. I am now learning that I shouldn’t worry so much, it will only waste my time, and make me suffer and worry more. Now when I am overthinking, I remind myself to take a breath, understand that this is happening for a reason, it will only make me stronger. I think well I lost that friend who wasn’t so great to me, months later I now feel great as a person. I don’t feel worried all the time that I would’ve gotten ignored or they would’ve started a problem. At first I was upset, mad that I had lost a friend who was there since fourth grade. But she left for a reason. It will better me in the long run. Or when I have a disagreement with my boyfriend, old me would’ve sat there for hours wondering why it had happened, why I acted that way. But now I remind myself, that happened for a reason, so we could communicate, understand each other’s opinions and values and become stronger. It’s not only important that I understand that. It’s important that others recognize that too. We would become a lot less stressed, a weight lifted off our shoulders. We might be able to sleep better at night, or have a better work or school day. I believe that situations happened because they were NEEDED for us to become stronger.
August 15, 2024 at 1:46 am
Jake M
As I have gotten older, I have started to realize how easy it is for us humans to react and adapt to unexpected situations that come our way. Although we cannot know when these things may happen, when they do it feels like we are so quick to accept these sudden changes and overcome any inconveniences.
I know this is now an overused topic in modern writing assignments, but covid fits my observation perfectly. All of a sudden over seven billion people were facing a worldwide pandemic that quarantined families, closed down schools, and put many businesses on hold. In less than a year we were allowed back into grocery stores and us students could learn in a classroom again. We needed new regulations like masks and vaccines, but in a very fast timeline the world was back to being as normal as it could be, all thanks to us humans for overcoming an obstacle like that so quickly.
This skill that we have can definitely be useful during my college experience. College is a period of growth, and I know there will be many hurdles between now and the day that I get handed my diploma. But no matter what comes my way I know I will be able to get through it because I know this trait that all us humans share: adaptation. From things as simple as an assignment to a personal, life-changing situation, I am more than confident that I will get through it.
August 29, 2024 at 11:00 pm
I agree with your essay. I like how you compared the skills needed to combat Covid-19 with the skills needed for college.
August 15, 2024 at 1:46 am
Vihanga P.
The moment my school announced that in-person classes would be suspended, everyone was celebrating. I was enamored with doing school at home and playing video games most of the time. All of my friends were in agreement as well. I thought of it as an extended summer vacation. The first week was now of the best, as all I did was go to online school and play video games. As time went on, I started to not take things seriously. I would skip classes and just do my own thing. At the time, I thought most of my friends did anyways; I might as well. I knew that it would be detrimental to my grades, but I was young and did not care. As the months passed, I ended up getting bad grades and even failing one class. This put my chances of passing for the year in jeopardy. I knew this would affect my future. I stated turning around and started studying to make up for it. I knew slacking off wouldn’t do anything for me. I turned around and started to get better in school.
What this ordeal taught me was perseverance and to prevail against all odds. This ordeal made me realize that hard work pays off.
August 15, 2024 at 2:12 am
Nathan F
Struggle is something that people go to great lengths to avoid. We find it inconvenient, annoying, distressing, painful, and even excruciating. Struggle however should not be viewed in this way. Of all the experiences in our lives, the ones that truly define us are the ones that present us with a challenge to struggle with and overcome. It is how we react to struggles that show our true character. For this reason, as much as we might want to, struggle should not be avoided. It is an opportunity to prove to ourselves and others who we are. One thing that I have dealt with my entire life is my OCD. Many things in my everyday life bother me like a bad ich that I can not scratch. There have been days in my past when I have been borderline non-functional due to the mundane things around me that for no apparent reason bothered me beyond reason. When it got bad I had two options, I could either succumb to it and resort to my obsessive compulsions to cope with it or I could work through it and come out better for having done so. If I had let my OCD take over I wouldn’t be going to college to become a physicist. I would have lost everything for momentary relief from something that would never go away. The struggle made me better and proved to myself that I could do difficult things. I still struggle with my OCD every day and for that, I am not upset I am grateful.
August 15, 2024 at 1:11 pm
Thanks for sharing Nathan! For folks struggling with OCD and other mental health conditions, the Office of Student Accessibility on campus is available to help. Here is a link with more info: https://www.umassd.edu/accessibility/
August 15, 2024 at 3:09 am
Allyson L.
Depression has changed the way I view the world; what I mean by this is that depression has shaped the way I have experienced life. Being diagnosed and learning to manage the ups and downs of mental health at a young age brings you to the harsh reality that you may not live to reach the goals you have planned due to the thoughts going through your head.
Depression has taught me how to find comfort within the discomfort of my thoughts. Causing the desire to completely change yourself when unhappiness starts to challenge how you view yourself and who you are. Causing you to feel like you are caught in a vicious cycle of your thoughts. However, eventually, the spiral crashed and destroyed everything around you. Leaving you to see all you have missed in life. I had a negative view of the world for a long time and felt unhappy until something switched, and I could finally see the good in life. The discomfort I felt within my mind seemed to go away. Not entirely, but just enough so that I could enjoy life.
Depression has taught me to be patient and know that even though things are bad at the moment, it doesn’t mean they won’t change. The way I view the world will permanently be altered due to having a mental illness. I will never be able to change the way depression has caused me to view the world. Or change its consequences on my life and who I am.
September 3, 2024 at 8:49 pm
I liked reading what you had to say and learning about your experience and how everyone struggles in different ways. I liked reading about how you explained how the discomfort went away, but not completely and how we adapt while overcoming different situations.
August 15, 2024 at 3:40 am
Edwin C
By far, perseverance is the most important ability in overcoming an obstacle. You can have excellent preparation or progress already in hand, but if you can’t continue to fight even in the most dire of situations it can all go awry.
You can guess what obstacles children and adolescents tend to face in their journey to adulthood: school exams, juggling relationships, learning how to drive, etc. While some people find certain obstacles more difficult than others, it’s almost a given that there isn’t going to be sufficient motivation to want to overcome these tasks. What option is left then? Pressing onwards despite this is sometimes all that we can do.
Obstacles that I’ve faced such as managing my time appropriately or needing to keep my grades up have only been challenges I could find motivation to complete long ago. I was aware of the consequences and how fixing these problems would be beneficial towards my future, but you can only think of that for so long before hope wears thin. It’s my perseverance that has kept me going throughout most of my life. As hoped for, the sheer dedication mustered regardless of the situation has been rewarding. Even with how dim things can seem, I succeeded in these tasks and even discovered a newfound drive to take on whatever is thrown at me.
For those who can’t find a reason to get out of bed or even bring themselves to do something as simple as write a blog in a timely manner, yet still move forward in life, there is a light at the end of the tunnel you’re on your way to find.
August 15, 2024 at 4:00 am
Lawrence H
Something that made me question my belief in the past that I think is important to reflect on. Now that I am entering college, that is still helping me along through life involving some friends that I had on the track team with me in highschool.
I believed that if you constantly put the work in and try your best with everything you do, you can catch up or become better than you were aiming for.
However, when it came to some kids even though I put in the work they were already where I wanted to be. Therefore, over time I got stuck in a place where I had trouble improving. Then the key words my coach said to me was, “Have fun while doing it.” Another was, “Yeah people might start off better than you. But it’s thanks to that, you were able to develop with a better sense of hard work and determination.”.
Thanks to his words I was able to grow and get better. Then on the last team meet I was able to put my all and reach my goals. On that day I tripled jumped 40 feet, and also beat my teammate who was a goal for me for 2 years in hurdles.
This is what helped strengthen my belief, that if you work hard then you too can reach your goals and even surpass them. I also learned that along the way, make sure to not forget to have fun.
In conclusion, yeah some people may start off behind others but if you put in the work and strive for greater you can accomplish anything.
August 15, 2024 at 4:04 am
Sabby J.
Something that made me wonder about the world is the belief that we must be unhappy to be successful. All my life I have always liked being creative,whether it is singing, dancing, writing or drawing. Anything art wise has always been a part of me, it always brings me happiness to form something beautiful with limited materials. Going into college I knew that I’d need to be creative with whatever profession I’d decide to go into. Marketing allows you to be creative while also making money. All companies need to direct their products to consumers. Consumers need to be introduced by marketing and advertising. Advertising allows you to be creative. Advertisements come in the form of billboards, posters, commercials, flyers, endorsements and more. I’m mostly excited to create commercials. You can let your mind run free to make money for a company and make money for yourself. You can still be yourself without breaking your soul and you can still be your authentic self. In this world, it is hard to do what you are genuinely passionate about. You can’t find the jobs of a professional singer, dancer, artist, songwriter on indeed. If it were that way many people would be out chasing their passion. I believe that you can find a little way to be yourself and make money out of it. You can turn your passion into a side hustle. It is possible to let your heart, mind and wallet thrive. It is possible to be your authentic self.
August 15, 2024 at 4:05 am
Carlos B
“How many times do you live?” This quote means a lot to me. Being afraid to do something is a common issue. Humans are social beings, so people tend to avoid things of embarrassment or potential judgment. I believe this shouldn’t be the case since life is short and with that fact, you should avoid regrets. It would suck to be 80 years old reminiscing on when you were young and saying I wish I did this or that. There’s plenty to do and try. It would be best if you didn’t worry about how others will think. If you like it and can see the enjoyment in it, don’t be afraid. It doesn’t even have to be something you enjoy, just curiosity alone shouldn’t be shut down because of the mind or word of somebody else. It’s your life! Besides judgment, people tend to question their capabilities with things. This leads them not to give things a try. For example, when learning an instrument: someone with a strong interest in the piano wouldn’t know it because it could take too long or they’ve never had any experience. This shouldn’t stop them since life is too short and they could have fun doing it. Even if they don’t, they should be content with the effort and the fact they even tried. It’s great to see what life has to offer. Be yourself and express curiosity. The world is huge and your capabilities are too. Don’t let others stop you from committing to things and getting out there.
August 15, 2024 at 4:24 am
Ava S.
Resilience and adaptability are two of a student’s most powerful traits. These qualities enable students to navigate the inevitable academic and personal challenges during their educational journey. By fostering a mindset that embraces change and learns from setbacks, students enhance their success and contribute to creating a more empathetic campus atmosphere.
Resilience and adaptability played a crucial role in helping me navigate the intense pressures I faced during my high school years. Juggling multiple clubs and leadership positions while taking the highest-level classes available and working my part-time job often left me feeling stretched too thin. On top of that, I was managing my mental health challenges, which only added to the stress. However, by developing resilience, I learned to bounce back from setbacks and persist through difficult times. Adaptability allowed me to adjust my strategies, priorities, and mindset when circumstances became overwhelming. These traits not only helped me maintain my high academic performance but also ensured that I could take care of my mental well-being while fulfilling my commitments.
On a college campus, like UMass Dartmouth, adaptability and resilience are essential tools for managing both academic and personal challenges. Academically, these traits enable students to cope with the stress and the constant demand to perform. Resilience allows students to recover from a poor grade or an overwhelming schedule, while adaptability helps them adjust study habits, time management, and priorities to better handle their responsibilities. On a personal level, adaptability aids in navigating the complex social dynamics of college life, allowing students to build and maintain relationships, even as their environments and social circles change. Resilience supports mental health by encouraging students to seek help when needed and to maintain their well-being despite external pressures.
The broad impact of fostering resilience and adaptability across a campus is profound, it helps create a supportive atmosphere where students feel empowered to face challenges together.
August 15, 2024 at 2:00 pm
I believe that being hopeful can change your life.
I was always a very positive person. Ask any of my elementary school teachers, and they’ll tell you how hard I fought to always see the bright side. Unfortunately, my most insurmountable few years would kickstart right around middle school.
I tried rolling with a different crowd. The bitter preteen nihilists that claimed they loved the theory, with no clue how to spell it. I was miserable, and I felt so, so alone.
And that lasted up until 2020.
Lockdown hit, and with it, so did my father’s cancer diagnosis. My family was distraught and overly cautious, but for the first time in a long time, without the toxic influence of so-called “friends”… I felt hopeful. My dad’s medical prognosis was amazing, but it still shocked me enough that I had to step back and evaluate my life. After all, I’d been given such a harsh reminder of how short it can be. I started hanging out with a new crowd, though I mostly took time for myself. I figured out that I was transgender; I found a new name for myself, and I started to become a person that could smile again.
I believe that being hopeful can change your life, because I learned first-hand that the need for hope will find its way into your life in the most harsh way it can. I learned that life is what you make of it, what colored filter you place on top of your vision. Though it took me a trial by fire, I finally learned to find hope and joy in life, and it changed me forever.
August 27, 2024 at 4:32 pm
Wow. Just WOW. Of all the blog posts I’ve read so far, I think I’ve connected to yours the most. Grief is the Thing with Feathers may be a book, but Hope was written long before it.
Having experienced how illness impacts family myself, having suffered through a mirror to the friend group you described, and having discovered my identity as a queer individual and a person comprised of more than I knew, all within the lockdown years… I got goosebumps reading what someone who shares a modicum of my own experiences wrote. It’s wild how our we can flip back around when we reflect on our lives and what comprises them, isn’t it?
It’s definitely not an easy thing to see a loved one suffer through such a life-altering diagnosis. It’s not easy to switch friend groups, especially not when they’ve affected you for the worse. It’s not easy to figure out your identity in the midst of a pandemic, where social media compensates for the stimulation of the outside world, and where it can plant ideas of shame and doubt as much as it can cultivate honesty and confidence. I, personally, applaud you for living through what you shared in your post. What’s more: I admire, not only your living through your challenges, but your changing for the better alongside them, as well.
Thank you for sharing your story, and—albeit unwittingly—thank you for allowing me to feel less alone in my own experiences 🙂
August 15, 2024 at 3:10 pm
Ludbel T.
One belief that continually challenges me is the notion that everything happens for a reason. I have faced so many changes in my life that I never expected, and it has been tough to make sense of them. When I entered foster care, I was full of anger and sadness. Losing my dad and being in a new, confusing situation left me feeling alone and lost. My mental health started to suffer, affecting my schoolwork and my relationships. I could not stop asking myself why this was happening—why now, and why me? The question of “why” was a constant source of distress. It took a long time, but eventually, I started to see the positive side of my experiences. If I had not gone into foster care, I would still be dealing with the intense and harmful pressure and abuse from my dad. Instead, I have grown more independent and learned to be proud of who I am. I have made meaningful connections with friends and social workers who have been incredibly supportive, which would not have been possible otherwise. I also value the chance I have had to receive a free education. I came to appreciate the opportunities that came with my situation, Through the lens of time, I see that these hardships, while incredibly difficult, have contributed to my resilience and have shaped me into a stronger, more self-aware individual. The lessons learned have allowed me to move forward, heal, and find a sense of purpose and pride in who I have become. The belief that everything happens for a reason is important not just for me but for everyone. Life is complicated and filled with challenges at every turn, but those challenges often lead to growth, integrity, and perseverance. It is crucial to keep believing that there is a reason behind these difficulties to overcome them and find meaning in the struggles we face.
August 15, 2024 at 3:19 pm
Kellen B
A belief of mine that has changed as I have grown, is how I view obstacles in my life. When I was a kid, obstacles seemed challenging and almost impossible to overcome. At that time, I was unaware that difficulties and obstacles could be surmountable with hard work and motivation. I learned this lesson when I dislocated my kneecap in a basketball game, I was stripped of the ability to drive for two months this along with the extremely uncomfortable brace and not being able to move very well.This posed a problem because I hate being trapped in the house and not being able to be active, no work, no gym, no sports. Over time I began to look at it in a different light. I was able to spend more time with my family and my dogs before I went off to college which I started to see as a positive.
As I continued throughout my senior year, I realized that specific problems in people’s lives, such as grades, relationships, or loss, can be extremely difficult to move past and grow from. However, after the healing process and effort, you can look back on those difficult situations with a sense of growth and development. Over time, I have come to see that obstacles and challenges are ultimately opportunities to learn and grow from.
August 15, 2024 at 3:47 pm
Michael W.P.
Growing up, my mother always said to me that no matter what you can never completely prevent life’s obstacles from getting in the way, as trial and tribulation is just another aspect of life. But its how you react, that’s what matters.
There were many times in life were I found myself facing various forms of personal struggle, whether its something as simple as losing my house key and having to wait a few hours for my father to get home from work, or a long term struggle like my short attention span constantly preventing me from being able to focus on important things, I always try to put things in a positive light which is one of my personal key methods I use to persevere when faced with one of life’s many obstacles.
To think of a particular instance where I to overcome an obstacle that was out of my hands. I remember there was a time that I got caught up doing yardwork, for me not a particularly exciting task, but usually with the lawn mower and some hedge trimmers to deal with the bushes it’s a relatively easy task that gets done in a few hours. However halfway through this particular day the engine on the lawnmower blew when I was only about halfway done or so. Very frustrating to deal with especially as I knew that the sun was setting and I needed to come up with a solution fast to finish what I started. But instead of lingering on it for too long, I grabbed the old weedwhacker from the garage and used that to finish up with the best of my ability. Sure it definitely wasn’t perfect but it was the best option available at the time, and by thinking rationally I was able to overcome this obstacle with just a little bit of extra effort.
To sum it all up, whether its something school, personal, or work related. When faced with an obstacle, don’t linger on it. Face obstacles head on instead of either ignoring or dismissing them, because with a positive mentality thing always will go the best, especially when it comes to overcoming life’s obstacles.
September 1, 2024 at 3:01 am
I can agree with how you perceive challenges, and are striving to make do with what you have.
September 1, 2024 at 3:07 am
I completely agree. You always need to push through whatever life brings your way and never give up on your goals.
August 15, 2024 at 4:29 pm
Growing up as a biracial kid, I encountered certain challenges that made me feel like I was continuously caught between two different worlds. I felt as though I wasn’t “Black enough” with my black friends or I wasn’t “White enough” with my white friends. This feeling of not fitting in made me question my individuality and where I belonged. I started acting and speaking a certain way around both racial groups in hopes of feeling accepted by either side but it was tiring and I became distressed because of how I wasn’t truly being myself. But at some point, I realized that I am my own person, and my race shouldn’t dictate my personality. After I started being more of my authentic self around people it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. The problem today is that stereotypes force people into specific roles based on their race, which isn’t right. These stereotypes limit people to plain labels instead of recognizing who they are as a person. Every person is unique and shouldn’t be automatically categorized by their racial background, we even put ourselves in these categories without realizing it sometimes. It’s a bad habit we’ve learned from previous generations. We have to make a change so that future generations don’t adapt these bad habits. By embracing our different identities and breaking these stereotypes we can be more honest to ourselves and value each person’s individualities to create a more inclusive and understanding society.
August 15, 2024 at 9:53 pm
Nina O’Neil
Since I was four years old I have considered myself an athlete. My sports practices and games filled my life to the brim with hours of amazing laughs, challenges to overcome with myself and my teammates, learning to manage my time sufficiently, and shaping who I am as a person today. For the first time since I was a toddler, I am without my beloved athletics.
I am left wondering if I am allowed to call myself an athlete anymore, or if I will ever experience the feeling of being surrounded by my favorite people on a field again, or if I will miss out on some of the lessons that I have yet to learn, or if I will ever not miss playing organized sports. Yes, I could have continued my career of being an athlete in college, but would I rather sacrifice just four years of playing softball or risk my career of becoming a nurse? On this ledge is where my mind teetered for a year.
Over this year that I contemplated, I realized that I play sports because I am a competitive person. I enjoy challenging myself to see what I can achieve next and I always feel better after some hard work is done. Yes, a massive part of sports that I love is the atmosphere–the pressure that pushed me from my coaches and teammates, and the family that developed over the years of the team being together–but I can find my people and purpose outside of sports. Afterall, I am entering a whole new school with brand new opportunities and people that I could very well consider my family in the near future.
As I move away from the challenges given to me by organized athletics, I challenge myself to continue to achieve my goals. Whether it be physical goals set for myself in the gym, mental goals set for self-improvement, or academic goals. I challenge myself to be driven towards goals outside of sports the same as I was driven towards the goals set within sports. I may not be participating in organized sports anymore, but that does not mean that the entirety of my lifestyle must change as well.
August 15, 2024 at 11:50 pm
One particular time of my life that has helped me become more social with people and has helped me grow as a human being was when I participated in high school sports. During my senior year in high school, I was able to get out of my comfort zone when it came to interacting with people, because I can admit, I have a lot of anxiety when it came to talking to new people. I was able to interact more with my friends that I know, and I felt more comfortable to talk to new people and make new friends. Secondly, Track and Field has helped me feel more confidence and it has decreased my anxiety because of all the support I had in and out of school. Track and Field was the best sport for me because the sport gave me an opportunity to really show what I was capable of doing, and the sport has helped me stay focused and determined to keep training and getting faster and stronger.
I went through a lot of hard times throughout my life, from depression, regret, negative thoughts and insecurity. Most of my life has been constant negative thoughts that have either been about myself or other people, and insecurity because of the acne on my face. I’ve had a lot of support from family members, teachers and therapists to help me be able to control my thoughts so I don’t let any negative thoughts affect me. Overtime, I’ve been able to overcome these things by just believing that negative thoughts don’t define who you are, and that nobody is perfect. I’ve learned that negative thoughts don’t go away on their own, but you are able to control them and not let them control you.
August 15, 2024 at 11:51 pm
Kimber-Starr B.
While growing up, I believed that success was a direct result of talent.It seemed that most successful people were those who had a specific ability that set them apart. I started to believe that if I was not naturally good in a certain area I was never going to succeed. However this belief changed when I came face to face with a challenging period in my life.
In my junior year of high school, I began to face a few academic setbacks. Despite the effort I put in , I continued to struggle in subjects that did not come easily. I remember studying for what felt like days for one of the chemistry tests and then failing it. My confidence was shattered then I wondered if I even had it in me to succeed. Instead of giving up I decided to stay after school with the teacher and spend more time reviewing the material. It was not an easy road. There were moments when I wanted to quit but I kept going and pushed through. By the end of the year I had improved so much not only in chemistry but in the importance of understanding the true content of any given subject.
I learned that perseverance is more powerful than any given talent.I believe that it’s an essential belief that everyone should know. We all face obstacles; it’s our determination that pushes us through and defines who we are. I plan to carry the belief that success is not about failing it is about never giving up with me into Umass Dartmouth.
It’s important to consider what we could accomplish if everyone embraced the power of patience in a society that glorifies instant success.
August 16, 2024 at 12:07 am
Mila D.
I believe that it is important to take breaks from certain activities if it is mentally draining an individual. Towards the end of my sophomore year of high school, I struggled a lot mentally when it came to my sport that I had been participating in for roughly ten years. I started to lose passion in swimming because I noticed a decline in my performance due to a lack of dropping time. I started to think I wasn’t as good as my teammates and that I didn’t fit in with the team anymore. I didn’t think that I needed a break because I thought a break would only make my performance worse, but it was the best decision I could’ve made for myself. After a long conversation with my coach, we decided that what would be best for me is a few months off from swimming. I struggled mentally my junior year, and the break from my sport allowed me to realize the importance of listening to my body when it knows something is wrong. I spent more time focusing on school, my social life, and going to the gym on my own time. I grew to love myself again and gained a new sense of mind which allowed me to gain the confidence to come back for my senior year of swimming. Coming back was not easy as I was more out of shape than the rest of my teammates, but with the right training I slowly came back to where I was before and noticed my endurance getting even better than before. For the first time ever, I qualified for Nationals and was able to get to fly down to Florida and compete with my team. All of the hard work and determination I put into my training was worth it and I dropped more time than I ever did before. I would not have been able to do any of it without the importance of recognizing the need for a break. Taking a break and time to yourself does not make you any less worthy than your peers. It is important to recognize when you mentally and physically need a break from certain activities.
August 16, 2024 at 12:28 am
Meaghan P.
I believed for most of my life that I was invincible. That’s how most kids are, they believe nothing can bring them down, that is until something does. I had never studied for a class, pushed everything off until the last minute, and rarely paid attention. I did all this because I could, and I could always slide by with rather good grades. That is until senior year.
I was in AP English Literature, and it was the first class that ever made me question my intelligence. Was I really smart? That whole time, was it all a lie? Should I have been studying and planning like everyone else? Was I worth anything anymore, if I wasn’t smart? That was all I had going for me. I had about three friends who were all drifting farther and farther away from me, It seemed like I wasn’t welcome anywhere anymore. And the worst thing that happened the whole year for my family, was my aunt passing away. She had been battling cancer for years and died suddenly in October. For a long time, I really couldn’t do anything. I didn’t want to try anymore. This was when my belief changed when I realized that I wasn’t invincible and that I had to struggle and persevere just like everybody else.
After I took the AP Literature exam, I felt horrible about it. I had been struggling in that class, I was putting every bit of effort and energy I had into it because I knew my aunt would have wanted me to keep going and try my hardest. It felt horrible, knowing I had put everything into that exam, and I still wasn’t good enough. But when I got the scores back, I got a 5. It didn’t feel good, because I knew it wasn’t over. I had to keep working and keep putting all of my effort into things. Now I have to learn how to study, how to organize my time, and balance my life. I’m going to keep going because I have to. I have to make my aunt and the rest of my family proud.
August 31, 2024 at 2:14 am
Totally agree on that, I often found myself struggling with difficult syntax in AP lit, and my multiple choice practices never went too well, but when that score report came back, it was NOT all for naught. All I know is that the effort that I put in many of the classes that I struggled in will now also be devoted to english in order to keep up the pace!
August 16, 2024 at 12:50 am
Aodhan K
In the summer of 2020, during the peak of COVID-19 my house caught fire, while me and my mother were inside. Normally I would be out of the house for most of the day because I was training at captain’s practice. I was upstairs in my room when the fire started, but my mother was downstairs, and she saw the fire and called the fire department. She thought that I was out of the house at the time and told them that no one else was in the house and that it was just her. While this was happening, I figured out myself that there was a fire, because there was an odd smell. I went outside my room and checked the bottom of the stairs and there was a fire raging. So, like any 14-year-old boy, I panicked and sprinted back into my room and slammed the door. I went to my windows and opened them immediately. Then I screamed as loud as I could, “IM UPSTAIRS HELP”. No one heard me, only then did I realize that I had to get myself out. No one was coming for me. My brain went into overdrive, and I started to think faster than I have before. After what felt like an eternity, but in reality, was about a minute or two. I came up with two options jump out the window and land in the bush just below my bedroom window or try and run past the fire at the bottom of the stairs. I decided that the stairs would be the more optimal choice. So, I walked back to the top of the stairs and steeled myself to run past. But by the time I was in my room the fire had started to creep up the stairs. In my quick thinking I walked a little down the stairs and broke the railing on the side of the stairs and jumped down and ran as fast as I could out of the house. Through this experience, I learned that life can at any point just abruptly stop. After this point in my life, I have lived every moment sense to its fullest and taking advantage of every opportunity given to me.
August 16, 2024 at 12:55 am
Trevar Araujo
Obstacles can constantly try to limit your vision of success and the way you preserver them shapes yourself as a person and on who will you become. I constantly create my own Obstacles ranging from believing what I hear and self doubt. I constantly create this negative persona of myself for short periods of time but I will allow for it to control my actions and thoughts.
August 16, 2024 at 12:56 am
Melanya N.
A belief of mine that has changed tremendously over the years is how I view and endure obstacles in life. Growing up in Sweden, I always imagined I was living the perfect life. After all, the people who had surrounded me throughout my entire life were all I knew. These were the people I truly considered my family, and the friends I had made were ones I thought would be lifelong. But one day, my parents broke the shattering news to my siblings and I: we were going to move from what we considered “home” to a whole new country. There, we would have to make new friends and grow close to family we used to see only once every couple of years. To 12-year-old me, this felt like the end of the world. I distanced myself from everyone I had grown up around, thinking I would never see them again. My family and I eventually arrived in the United States on August 24, 2017, and the sadness that came with the move seemed almost impossible to overcome. However, after spending almost seven years here, I have come to realize that moving was for the better, with new opportunities, and that it was not impossible to overcome. Starting at a new school and meeting new friends was not as difficult as I had originally thought it would be. I am now closer to my cousins than ever, whom I used to barely see. I consider each one of them another sibling, and I am beyond grateful to be so close to them. I am also tremendously grateful to be able to return to Sweden every summer to see my friends and family. While I am no longer friends with everyone I left behind when I moved, that experience showed me who my true friends are and those are the people I first go to visit when I land in Sweden. I have come to realize that some obstacles in life come with positive outcomes, however, they might not show until the long run.
August 16, 2024 at 12:56 am
Mark M.
“Have you ever thought about who you are in this? Are you the man in the pot, Diogenes? Are you his hand? Are you the top of his hammer? I think not — where your hand moves, the hammer may not follow, nor the man, nor the man’s hand. In this, you are his WILL. His intent. His embodied resolve in his uphill ascent.”
Before, I used to think that we as humans wandered this plain for no reason. I sought out answers that I told myself were unreachable. But upon hearing this single quote from a game, it challenged my point of view and my belief. It is an understatement to say that it changed my worldview as a whole; it has truly rocked me to my core without a doubt.
Now. I want you to think of who you are in this story.
The universe decided to give you this challenge, the one who came this far. It is glad that you have achieved so much this far into your journey. It gives this challenge with all of its love, as it knows that what you do now is not something that is pasted in a museum, nor is it ever actualized into the history books. It knows that it lives for the now. For this moment.
And this is your moment.
August 16, 2024 at 1:11 am
Devon E- One belief of mine that has changed, was the belief that you can go through life fully alone. Now I believe you need help and guidance for setbacks you’ll have. At the end of my sophomore year I completely tore my ACL and had to get surgery. I didn’t know if I would ever return back to sports because my doctor said recovery could take a year. My doctor talking about this complex surgery and tedious recovery scared me and made me rethink my goal of playing sports in college. But after that I talked to my peers that had this injury and coaches that have seen this injury. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel again. I knew I could bounce back with the help of the people around me and hardwork. After surgery I was in the worst pain and always uncomfortable. People would have to help me do things that I never thought I’d need help with. This includes getting in and out of bed, going up stairs, and more. Through this hard time I had trainers, my parents, and coaches pushing me to do physical therapy so I could be ready for my senior year. When I saw I had more than enough help and support, playing sports in college was my main goal again. Everyone has many setbacks, some worse than others. That’s why you have people around you to support and help you through moments you don’t think you can come back from.
August 16, 2024 at 1:21 am
AG
In my life, COVID was an obstacle that I persevered through and ultimately got through as a better and happier person. Most people wouldn’t consider the pandemic a positive experience, but it was surprisingly beneficial for me. This is because of two separate reasons; an increase of time spent with family and a newer understanding of myself.
Firstly, before COVID my Mom and Dad worked very late into the night. This resulted in me being home alone most of the time and never really having conversations with them beyond saying goodbye in the morning and goodnight. When COVID happened, my Mom’s workplace was shut down and my Dad decided to work less. This was a blessing in disguise, it allowed me to spend more time with them in some of the most important years for a child. This led to all of us having a stronger bond and closer relationship. The new family dynamic didn’t last long but it contributed to me feeling closer to my parents before going to high school.
Another reason why COVID-19 was beneficial for me was the effect it had on me mentally. Previous to the pandemic, I was very focused on school and academics. When we got to go home for many months, it showed me that there were more important things in life than just school. I still stay focused on schooling but I never let it stress me out, this caused a much happier life outside of school where I could enjoy myself without always thinking about an assignment or test.
September 4, 2024 at 8:52 pm
I really like your thought process writing this essay, turning a tragic event into a positive learning experience.
August 16, 2024 at 1:33 am
Zachary G
Socialization, networking, and communication skills are vital aspects to achieving success in life. In almost every educational and work environment, interactions with other people — whether they are peers, coworkers, or bosses — are what dictate how much you take away and learn from each experience. In my mind, the absolute most important social skill to have is respect.
It is commonly said that respect is not given, rather, it is earned. In some regards, I agree with this statement. However, I find that the most effective and considerate way to “earn” someone’s respect is to present them with respect. Particularly in a work environment, respect has the power to change a person’s entire experience. Just this past summer, I had to work with an individual that completely lacked respect. He was inconsiderate towards personal boundaries, had no regard for the mental well-being of his coworkers, and did not care to put in the same effort that everyone else was putting in. In other words, he had no respect for his job, the people he was working with, and thus, had no respect for himself. This made working with him miserable. Every day, I dreaded going into work because I knew that I had to deal with such an inconsiderate and immature person. His lack of respect not only affected his coworkers, but also himself. It caused him to be sent home, assigned different positions, and ultimately work less hours, meaning he did not get the full experience that he had originally signed up for.
On the other hand, having respect can open many doors that lead to greater success in life. Being kind, considerate, and empathetic — all key components of respect — makes it that much more likely that the people in your life will see your ambition, dedication, and willingness to persevere that so often get shrouded by a lack of respect. Your bosses, professors, coworkers, and advisors all want to help you succeed, but will not do so unless you learn to have respect.
September 1, 2024 at 12:31 am
I couldn’t agree more. Having respect for yourself and the people around can positively impact everyone and help you grow not only as a person, but as a member in todays society.
August 16, 2024 at 2:03 am
A belief that really changed me is accepting failure as a stepping stone to success. As I was growing up I realised failure is not something you can prevent even though I always wanted to be successful and always try to prevent failure it’s not something that I could do anything about.
Some events that happened in my life has been a point that failure isn’t something you can really prevent or avoid , one event is when I decided to take an early College class public speaking, even though I had trouble speaking in public speaking in front of a lot of people I still took it because I saw it as a challenge. I wanted to challenge myself, but it was really difficult for me to speak in front of a lot of people so I dropped out of the class and it was really hard for me. Most of the assignments for the class were presentations and it was really hard for me to do them so I dropped out of the class. I didn’t see that as a failure, I was proud of myself that at least I took the class and did like two presentations even though it was really hard for me, so I looked at that as a stepping stone not as a failure.
This event and many more past events in my life that have challenged me have shown me how failure it’s not always a bad thing sometimes but it can make you challenge yourself as an individual, take risks and also learn new things. This belief has helped me grow in my ways and coming to college this fall I know is going to be challenging and I’m going to face many failures on the way, but I’m not going to let that bring me down or make me feel any less of a student but let it encourage me to push harder and try harder which is going to help me achieve my goals.
August 16, 2024 at 2:24 am
Luke D
Over the course of my life there have been many difficulties and roadblocks that have prevented me from achieving my personal goals, and of these obstacles none have limited as much as my own mind. To attain any goal you must have motivation and belief in your own ability to act upon your desire to accomplish that goal, these two factors have contributed to my failure many times and most definitely will continue to be the most difficult things that I will deal with. Yet earlier in my life I did not have issues with these factors however as I grow and more experienced in life I realize that I have not attained mastery over any skill and from this come a loss in desire to do things. So as I enter college and I have taken time to reflect on these emotions I gave come to understand that self improvement is journey that continues to the end of our lives and through self improvement one will become more confident in the ability as well as that self-governing is most often Faustian in nature while external motivation through family, friends, and society is more often longer lasting and provides mutual motivation for all involved. This idea of a living a life based on self-improvement and doing it for the benefit of not only ones self but also a persons community has led me to have less difficulties with my own mental roadblocks but also allowed me to help others and be helped in turn.
August 16, 2024 at 2:58 am
Jonathan D.
Above all else, I believe in myself, but this wasn’t always the case. Growing up I believed that some achievements were just beyond my reach, no matter how hard I tried. This mindset caused me to close many doors of opportunity I could’ve utilized to aid me on my journey through life. If not for supportive friends, teachers, and family I likely would’ve kept holding onto this belief, clipping my own wings. Among the many moments of encouragement, one event stands above the rest as pivotal in turning my self doubt on its head.
It was the end of my high school junior year, in the band room, and preparations for the football season of next year had begun. As a percussionist in Taunton High’s symphonic band this time of year was extra special, because it was when our tenor drummer would choose a new up and coming senior to play them for their senior year. I was one of two of these, but didn’t believe I was capable. The tenor player at that time, however, saw potential in me that I was blind to. He gave me his sticks, and told me he was confident that I would be a great tenor player, even greater than him.
His belief in me fueled me as I practiced for hours after school everyday, and eventually I proved him right. With some effort and belief I was able to do something I never thought I could. Sometimes belief in yourself needs to be jump started by belief from someone else, but wherever you get it, you can do anything with it.
August 16, 2024 at 3:30 am
Cole W
I used to believe in the ridiculous myth of Bigfoot for the longest time. I was convinced that there was a tall and hairy creature roaming the woods of northern Maine. I watched a Disney movie called, Hairy and the Hendersons. It had a little jump scare with Bigfoot in it and it scared five year old me right into my mothers arms. After about 20 minutes of me having a breakdown, I calmed down and went onto my Ipad to do some more research on this creature that scared me so badly. I started to watch sighting videos on Youtube and went down the rabbit hole. I watched stupid Bigfoot videos that were clearly fake but fooled my young mind. After this there was no way I was going into the woods. It freaked me out so much that it took me almost ten years of hunting to get over the fear. I remember when I really got over it though. I was sitting in a hunting blind at the edge of a field. I’d sat in this field for hours when finally some turkeys walked out. They sat there and pecked at the ground scrummaging for food. I looked at them through my scope with no intention of shooting them because I was hunting deer and just simply watched them. They peacefully hopped around and it made me realize that animals have no intention of violence they are just simply trying to survive. Which made me think, why be afraid of something just trying to survive? The thought process snowballed into how I handle fear. I thought, “why should I be worried about things that are out of my hands?” I think this will be important to remember through the next few years of my life.
August 16, 2024 at 3:35 am
Janie V.C.- I have grown up in the church my whole life. Every Sunday morning at 11, I would be sitting in a pew probably staring at the stained glass instead of paying attention. For most of my life I didn’t know why I believed in God, which led to me questioning my faith. The first time I questioned my faith was in 2016 when my great grandmother passed away. My great grandmother was one of my biggest inspirations in life. She came to America in 1995 at 66 years old. She stayed here and made a living so that the rest of her family could join her. They joined her 10 years later, in 2005. I was born a year later. She was my reason for everything. She’s the reason I learned creole, the reason I tried so hard in school and the reason why I always found family so important. When she passed away, I was ten years old. I had never had to mourn someone’s death before. I was scared and angry, scared of how different life would be without her. I was angry at the world and somehow ended up angry at God. I was mad at Him for taking a strong woman who was a saint in my eyes away from me. I ended up questioning if He was even real. In 2022, I attended my first YES Retreat. The YES Retreat solidified my belief in God. I learned that God does not make you suffer, and He does not make bad things happen. He allows such things to happen, so that you can grow and persevere. My belief is not only important to me, it is important to our wider community. It is important because God gives people clarity, a safe haven, and reminds them they are not alone in times of destruction. What reminds you that you are not alone?
August 16, 2024 at 3:38 am
Thomas G.
Ever since I discovered running, the way that I see all other obstacles in my life has changed. Humans sure aren’t perfect, but we are built to withstand a lot. Be that the endless stress that comes from an increasingly “modern world” or the toll of miles and miles of aching legs. When I first started my running journey, I didn’t realize my own limits – just how much I could take – and this often caused me to give in early. Instead of pushing for the extra hundred yards, I would concede to my aching muscles and gasping lungs. But during one particularly grueling run, when I had reached that physical state where everything is telling you to stop, I decided that I was just going to keep on going. I chose to block out the exhaustion, just simply focus on my mind, and, eventually, the pain subsided and a feeling of calmness came over me. I had broken through, forced my way through “the wall”. I had no idea that I had that within me, the capacity to just keep going no matter what, and from that point forward I became a much better runner. It was as if the harder the obstacle was, the easier things would be once I had gotten through it. So I simply pose: whatever the next challenge that you are facing may be, just keep going, and maybe through determination, brute force, and even luck, you might just get through it.
September 2, 2024 at 11:46 pm
I had a similar experience except with wrestling instead of running
September 2, 2024 at 11:56 pm
Thomas M. Your choice to keep pushing even though you thought you were at your breaking point is very inspiring and helps prove to the rest of us as humans how strong we really are.
August 16, 2024 at 3:45 am
Darian S.
As Modana puts it, “Life is a mystery” (From “Like a Prayer”), and obstacles that are included in an unseen future help nothing. Still, they do cause even more anxiety about how they may affect the current, and next chapter of our lives. The realization is that everyone knows the feeling of a plan being prevented because of a setback that they couldn’t and didn’t know how to stop while in the moment. Which depending on the obstacle can make a person feel they’ve been regressed several steps in their life.
A situation like this came to me recently. This year mid March I had both my car totaled in an accident and a pet I had recently gotten, passed away. My car which I had saved up for since my Junior year, was gone in an instant which had left me with nothing but a little over 700 dollars left in my account. And a pet I had dreamt of owning, died in a matter of weeks after my crash. Both of these caused an excruciating amount of angst and dissatisfaction where I felt I was for months. I felt like, after everything I did to get these things, my hours at work, and my patience were for nothing. This made me feel like I was starting at the beginning of a video game without checkpoints, because of how fast each event happened it felt like my world was crumbling.
Considering what happened I still couldn’t grieve forever, and with my people around me to pick me back up, I learned two things from those occurrences. Losing my pet was a message telling me it may not be the time to have a pet now with college coming, and my car was to be prepared for the worst because you never know what may happen. I believe that even if these could be some of the worst things to happen all year, I could improve from this. Now I have money in my account in case of emergencies like my car accident, and it may be better if I buy the animal I want until I leave college considering the “no pet” rule. So I have learned these things may be better for me than I realize and stuff happens all the time, but it is all in how you handle it that determines the outcome.
August 16, 2024 at 3:51 am
Sara Lopez
If I can’t win, then why should I play?
As a kid, I wanted to win every game. I wanted to be the best at everything I did. If I didn’t win, then there was no purpose in playing. During my sophomore year, I decided to join the track team with only one goal in mind. To win. I thought to myself it was just running in a circle, how hard could it be? Wrong, I was terrible. It didn’t take long for me to realize this sport was not just about running in a circle but patience, confidence, and the constant drive for more.
Track taught me that winning isn’t always guaranteed. One can train relentlessly every day and still not get the results as expected. In some cases, I would win multiple medals, gain points for the team, break my records, and still feel unfulfilled with my performance. I wanted that top spot for myself.
This mentality took a turn when I developed stress fractures in my shins which caused me to cut my season short. I felt devastated as I watched other athletes accomplish PR’s and medals, I craved. During the off-season, I trained hard. I established a growth mindset and set out to grow no matter what.
In the following season, I cultivated a strong mentality of embracing the struggles before the win. I’m committed to trusting my process. Only I dictate my path. Being a winner isn’t because of luck or accident. Winning is from determination, hardship, and action.
August 16, 2024 at 4:05 am
Kiyan W.
It’s never enough just to keep going with the flow. Those who get caught within the current will be swept out to sea and may float like driftwood, carried by the tide, or find themselves sinking deep into murky waters. I found myself so often feeling like a stick in the mud, unable to float nor merely sink and settle, so caught by the reeds of others’ wishes and hopes, never thinking of my own. The obstacles I ran into were many: Learn a new language, overcome physical and mental ailments, some chronic, some ebbing and flowing. The goals set before me were also enumerated greatly, much the same as the challenges that sought to strike them down: Be the first to graduate high school, find a passion, learn what no one else in your family has ever had the opportunity to learn, and make an honest living for your future generations. Faced with such challenges and such lofty goals, each passing moment felt a heightening tension, one that felt like a mountaineer slowly summiting the mountain of my mind and each passing moment of that increasing tension was like an icepick being wedged between my brows until finally, it peaked. With this peak came a moment, a moment in which I brought my digital hand over to digitally rip open the envelope that held my future. With a splash of tasteful confetti, I was in. Pressure absolved, the mountaineer falls down the mountain, landing in a frigid stream, and begins his slow journey out into the sea. But his journey is not yet over. When there are times of trouble he will return, because one summitting is not enough for him, his goals reach beyond that… But when he returns, I will be prepared. I have spoken to a mountaineering deterrence expert on how to prevent such evil characters from scaling my mind and creating terror and melancholy, and the many wild animals, natural hazards, and traps that I have set will do me more than enough good for stopping him.
August 16, 2024 at 4:22 am
Ariana M.
As I reflect off my life I deeply reminisce my high school years. Everyone says they are supposed to be the best four years of your life so why do I not feel it? I could think of so many adjectives to describe my experience as a high schooler. Some of the following include disappointing, adventurous, mindful and eye opening. Unfortunately my high school experience was dictated by a boy. I began to care less for school and more for him as the days went on. I spent years dedicating everything to someone who deserved nothing from me. Someone who was so unhappy with themselves that the only self fulfillment they had within themselves was hurting me. After many years this person threw me away like I meant nothing, I thought this was the end of me, I never thought I would recover. However although that breakup broke the past me, it build me into who I currently am. i’m not the same person this guy once destroyed, I have new morals, new goals, new boundaries and a new way of life. I hated myself for allowing him to destroy every aspect of my life. That’s when I decided it was time to change myself for the better. I began to focus on school and myself. I did some self reflecting to learn who I was individually as a person rather than just a side piece to this man. I took over a year to heal and learn myself when I met the man i’m currently in a relationship with. I’m able to be my own person. He doesn’t bring me down or switch my morals, instead he motivates me to want to do better for myself and for him. I feel the self growth within myself with him which is such an astounding feeling. It feels like a breath of fresh air and I couldn’t be more thankful for new opportunities coming my way.
August 16, 2024 at 5:02 am
Somathea Chea
I believe that people can change. Some people may think it’s impossible because of how they are and used to. In my experiences, addictions or relationships and personal growth can develop in a person.
Difficulty can act as a trigger for transformation. Those who are struggling with addiction, trauma. Many can learn how to be more resilient and stronger as a result of those challenges that force them to reconsider. To be happier, more fulfilling with their lives, even by learning new coping mechanisms that can help them grow and be healthier.
Change is evident in relationships. Not everyone has the same mindset as each other. Connecting with others exposes us to a variety of viewpoints that can change the way they see the world. Once a person becomes close with others who share different backgrounds, they may learn to reconsider their biases. Having experiences with someone who is emotional intelligence tests a lot of patience and understanding, but you learn how to help another understand by explaining. I think conflicts, love and empathy can cause people to reevaluate their attitudes and actions.
Personal growth is a change that everyone has in them and their lives. People learn to adjust to everyday life situations and face these problems. Someone who was formerly impulsive can learn how to think before doing, while someone who is insecure of themselves can learn confidence. We are forced to face our flaws, but we have the choice to become the better versions of ourselves by reflecting on who we are.
Change is possible, even though it might be challenging and gradual. It takes effort and perseverance. However people can and do change their life if given the proper inspiration and mechanisms. One of the fundamental aspects of being human is change, whether it comes from relationships, personal development or even hardship.
I think that individuals are capable of change. Being flexible and able to change, people are not perfect in any way. We give ourselves the chance to improve upon who we are by accepting and potential of change.
August 16, 2024 at 6:09 am
Growing up, my mom always told me I was going to be good at something whether it was sports, drawing or even speaking to a big group of people. As a kid I always wanted to be a professional baseball player. I’ve always had dreams of being a pro player & making it big for my family. One little obstacle held me from achieving that goal.
In the summer of 2021, I had started to gain interest from coaches from Holy Cross & right after the reach out from them I broke my left hand and dislocated a finger which led me into surgery. This injury took a mental toll on me because as soon as things started to go somewhat good for me I get hurt and things instantly felt like I was going south. It felt like everything I had worked for leading up to that point got taken from me and I wanted to give up.
Despite the injury, I rehabbed my hand and I got back on the field in under 6 weeks when the doctors told me 2-3 months. I use this story because this is a huge obstacle in my life, this injury took my whole summer and I wanted to quit but I didn’t. I persevered, put the work in and got back to healthy.
Now I hope that I can play for UMass Dartmouth and continue to pursue my child hood dream of playing at the college baseball level.
August 16, 2024 at 8:12 pm
Braden C
I believe that the best thing anyone can do is to just show up and try. It doesn’t matter if you fail or anything like that, just doing the best you can is all you have to worry about. I started to develop this belief when two of my close friends and I started playing soccer in junior year of high school. We all used to play when we were little, and we all also quit around the same time in sixth grade. So of course, we stunk when we picked it back up for summer captains practice. I started to have a lot of anxiety about letting down my team and the fear of people not liking me since I wasn’t good started to fill my head. When it was time for tryouts, I missed 3 out of the 5 days since I was so nervous. Luckily, I was blessed with great friends that I went in with and even some new friends I made at those summer captains practices. When I stopped showing up, they reached out to me and asked that I show up again just to make sure I didn’t want to do it. On my first day back, I had a conversation with the coach. He told me even though I wasn’t great at soccer, I showed up with a smile on my face and had the best attitude on the field. Though he found better words to say it and it may come off as cheesy to anyone else, it meant a lot to me. I ended up playing on JV with the two other friends I went in with and I had the time of my life. If I were to quit, I wouldn’t have made those memories and gained the skills of being part of a team. As we start this year of college, don’t let yourself get in the way of success. Go to class, use your resources, stay positive, and try your best!
August 16, 2024 at 8:49 pm
Samuel B.
Growing up I always had a plan of exactly what I wanted to do and thought that was the best and only way to live life. Yet as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned that there is so much to the world, everyone has different experiences and different ways of living life.
The first time I realized how different someone’s life can be in comparison to someone else was when I was meeting my mom’s friends. One was a doctor, one was a nurse and one worked in construction. From every conversation I had with each of them the world I had known grew a little bit bigger. Plus what blew my mind was not only had each friend taken a different path they were all happy and successful. Which made me realize how individual each person is.
With this newfound perspective, I’ve realized that not only is everyone different but there is so much that can make others happy without you even knowing about it. So from now on I am more willing to try new things and learn about different parts of the world that I had never batted an eye at beforehand. I think this gives us as students a reason to get to know each other and embrace what we learn to shape the world we want to live in.
August 17, 2024 at 1:43 am
Natalya L.
Youth is a time for learning and development, but sometimes we can only learn things by figuring it out the hard way. Sometimes we can only gain experience and therefore wisdom and maturity, by going through something that we hadn’t planned for, like hitting a bump in the road. But sometimes a little bump in the road is what we need for us to realize the things that are most important.
My bump in the road was at the end of April of my senior year, when I had scored the chance of being an intern at a hospital. I was excited. I looked forward to it. I felt grateful to be there shadowing nurses, and learning about patients and being surrounded by illness, and injury, and emergencies because I was learning something because I was taking a big, giant, daunting step to prepare myself on some level for what I wanted to do in life. But why did I want to be a nurse? That’s what I had been repeatedly asked. I didn’t have a grandiose story about a relative who was a nurse, I didn’t have an inspirational moment when the realization had clicked. I had no idea why, but I do know that I want to be a nurse. Does there have to be any more reason for why I want to do something that I just simply want to do?
Then my internship was terminated. Put more plainly, I was let go. Without putting it lightly, I was fired, and those are the truest words to ever be said to me over email on a Wednesday afternoon. And I had no idea why. It was like a punch to the stomach. Like smashing into a brick wall. Like hitting a bump in the road then falling and smashing my face on the pavement because I was left questioning: what had I done wrong?
For the first time, my resolve wavered—okay maybe not the first time. But maybe this was what I needed to reach the level of maturity necessary to move forward and towards greater things. Afterall, don’t we learn from our mistakes?
It wasn’t until later that I realized I had done nothing wrong. Nothing except being myself. It turns out that employers don’t want that. Not when that means you’re shy and introverted. For all the times that I’ve heard the phrase “be yourself”, that one bad experience and unlucky case of bad management had succeeded in destroying my belief that being myself was the best thing I could do. That may be true in some cases, but perseverance and putting on that mask of professionalism and smacking on that welcoming smile wouldn’t hurt if it meant I was helping patients. If it meant I had the chance to do what I wanted in life, I could go that extra mile to reach my goals and persevere.
So my question is: what will I do and how far will I go for happiness?
August 19, 2024 at 10:21 pm
Perseverance is a key concept when you are trying to overcome obstacles. Life is never easy, but if you persevere and surround yourself with positive people and thoughts, you can get through it. My life has not been the easiest either, especially during high school. I have been to four different high schools all within four years. The second high school I went to was very different from any of them. It was across the country in Colorado, a different setting, a different type of weather, new friends, and a new experience. For me to be able to go to school there, I had to complete a 24-day wilderness trip in New Mexico. This was such a big change for me that happened so fast. From seeing my mom every day to only seeing her every three months and then having to go on a trip with no phone, no shower, no deodorant or bathroom. The way we used bathrooms was digging holes and we had to use river water that we cleaned to drink. I couldn’t talk to anyone outside of my group and we had to carry backpacks weighing close to 100 pounds and walk at least 5 miles every day with them on. It was a very challenging experience especially when we had a long hiking day. The main obstacle was trying to think positively and keep pushing myself. The closer the trip came to an end, I felt so accomplished with myself. I learned that I can handle more than I think or that thinking positively and seeing a different side of things can get you through hardships.