Overcoming Obstacles

Everyone has problems they have to deal with in life, but there are two ways a person can deal with it. One is by letting it drag you down and become unmotivated, another is to have your problems help you grow and find out how to overcome them. I believe that this statement is true with the right mindset. You can’t tell a person “A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” and expect them to believe you, let alone try and put it in their life. But if you have a more positive mindset and a good look on life you are more likely to believe this quote and try to integrate it in your life.

A couple months ago I heard the quote, “A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” by Duke Ellington and is a statement I agree with and try to live by. Turning your mindset from thinking a problem is something that hinders you versus something that can help you grow, helps you become more positive and helps you live in the moment.

I had a scholarship program opportunity called Distinguished Young Women, it is a college scholarship opportunity for high school seniors that focuses on teaching young girls to have integrity, and to be your best self. This was something that intrigued me, considering I have never really done anything like it before. I have always been considered quiet, shy, and someone who doesn’t stand out. I never liked to stand up for myself and had a hard time with being who I was, instead I was trying to be what other people wanted me to be. DYW was this positive outlet to help me grow into my own voice and surrounded me in a positive environment that helped me feel comfortable to be able to find it.

The problem was that I didn’t know how to do an interview, I kept stuttering over my words, and overall didn’t know anything about myself; Being asked questions I didn’t know was tough and I had a really hard time trying to word what I wanted to say in less than a second. The night before I had second thoughts and wanted to pull out because of how nervous I was; I still wasn’t even close to being ready even though I practiced a lot. The morning of the day I decided that I still wanted to go, I put in a lot of hard work and I didn’t want that to be for nothing; even if I didn’t do good I still wanted to try. Low and behold I didn’t do well at my interview, I stuttered, and my face said that I was unsure of every answer that I gave.

Even though I was a bit bummed I didn’t win and get to go to nationals I was super proud of the overall winner, Julia Richards. DYW is an amazing program where you spend an entire day from 8am to 6pm with a group of girls you’ve never met. You bond over being tired, hungry, and wanting to go home. But through all that you get to meet a bunch of sisters that help you and support you through not only the whole day, but for the rest of your life. I had a group of girls help me with my interview before I went and hugged me after I came out.

Before that day I was so ready to just pull out and not go because I was scared, didn’t know how to do an interview, and thought I was going to make a fool of myself. But at the end of the day  I realized that it doesn’t matter if I failed that interview; I learned that now I know what an interview is and what to expect. I learned so many life lessons and I made so many new friends, people who will be there for the rest of my life. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world, no matter how anxious I was; and I am so happy that I made the decision to go instead of pulling out because I was scared.

Distinguished Young Women was the best opportunity of my life, it may seem like I’m over-exaggerating but when I say DYW saved life I mean it. I feel that every senior girl should do this because you’re not only getting a chance to get Scholarships money for college. But you are getting an experience of a lifetime and a group of sisters you will keep with you for the rest of your life. It made me realize that I may not be good at certain things right now, but not being good means you have space to grow. That is the problem that gave me an opportunity to grow as a person and helped me find what made me happy.

“Unbelievable Sky” by Riccardo Maria Mantero is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.