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Growing up, I struggled with a lack of confidence that only amplified these feelings. I believed that my worth was directly tied to how well I performed in school and how others viewed me. When I encountered something difficult, I took it as a sign that I wasn’t good enough. It wasn't just about struggling with schoolwork, though. It was anything that pushed me out of my comfort zone: trying new activities, speaking up in class, or simply tackling something that felt "too big" for me. I became paralyzed by self-doubt, often opting out of opportunities or challenges because I feared I wouldn’t be able to measure up.
It wasn’t until later in life, especially in high school, that I realized how much this mindset was holding me back. For years, I had tried to avoid anything that might highlight my weaknesses. I was terrified that failure would define me, that I wasn’t strong enough to bounce back. But growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones. As uncomfortable as it was, I learned that pushing myself to do hard things—despite my fear and discomfort—was where real progress began.
The true turning point in my life came in 10th grade, when I lost my grandfather. He was the first person close to me who died, and his passing shook me in ways I didn’t expect. I had never experienced such deep, personal loss, and it triggered something in me—a desire to be someone better than I was. Up until that point, I had been content with coasting through life, avoiding challenges, and holding onto the belief that I wasn’t capable of handling anything difficult. But the loss of my grandfather made me confront the fragility of life and the importance of embracing opportunities to grow and learn, no matter how uncomfortable they might seem.
After his death, I found myself reflecting on my life and my choices. I realized that I had been letting fear dictate my decisions, avoiding hard things because I didn’t believe I could endure them. But in the face of loss, I understood that life was too short to waste time holding back. I wanted to be someone who could face adversity, not shrink from it. I wanted to be someone who could persevere, not because it was easy, but because it was worth it.
This shift in mindset didn’t happen overnight. It wasn’t like a switch was flipped, and I suddenly had the courage to face every challenge head-on. But the loss of my grandfather gave me a new sense of purpose and a desire to embrace the discomfort that comes with growth. It wasn’t about being perfect or never failing—it was about showing up, even when it was hard, and believing that I could handle whatever came my way. I started to push myself in ways I hadn’t before—whether it was taking on difficult projects, trying new activities, or simply learning to embrace failure as part of the process.
Looking back, I see that this was a pivotal point in my personal growth. I began to embrace the discomfort that came with challenging myself. I stopped seeing failure as something to be feared and started viewing it as an opportunity to learn and grow. The more I pushed myself to face difficult situations, the more I realized that the ability to persevere was something that could be cultivated, just like any other skill. It wasn't about avoiding challenges but about accepting them, knowing that each one was a chance to build resilience.
Perseverance, I learned, isn't always a neat and tidy process. It’s messy, it’s uncomfortable, and it often feels like you’re taking one step forward and two steps back. But that’s where the magic happens—when we show up and keep going, even when it’s hard. Growth doesn’t happen when everything goes smoothly. It happens when we face the uncomfortable, the messy, and the uncertain, and still choose to move forward.
That realization is something I try to hold onto every day, both in my personal life and in my work. It's easy to get caught up in the fear of failure or to avoid challenges because we don't want to make mistakes. But it's through mistakes and discomfort that we grow, both as individuals and as learners. We may not always see the immediate results, but with time, perseverance starts to pay off.
So, when faced with difficult tasks or challenges—whether it's in school, work, or life—remember that perseverance is a skill that grows over time. It’s okay to feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s okay not to have all the answers right away. What matters is that you keep showing up, keep pushing forward, and keep trusting that, no matter how messy the journey may seem, it’s leading you toward growth.