It’s back to school time again. You’ve probably seen all of the seniors running rampant with stress. From filling out college applications to making sure their grades look great for their transcript, the seniors are not having a necessarily easy time of it. Yet, don’t we all face difficult obstacles in our lives?
Common App surely knows this. One of the essay questions for the application is all about facing difficulties and what you’ve learned from them. It’s a seemingly simple task; you can pretty much write about anything, but for those who have had the pivotal moment of facing their demons, you too can share your story by responding to this question:
“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”
I’ve had my fair share of challenges, but lately, I’ve been faced with an extra load. My senior year hasn’t been off to the most picture perfect start, and this isn’t something I can lie about. Many of my friends and teachers know my story; however, I needed to get it out there. It’s been bottled up inside, and I’ve cried quite a few times in the past few weeks. I figured it would be therapeutic to write about it, and I hope some of you can get something out of this.
Our story begins not so long ago, in a land not so far away: Ossining. Many of you know I dance. I had been going to the same studio since the second grade. Dancing had always made me happy, but things were starting to change. I was starting to grow dissatisfied. I felt ignored by the directors and ostracized by many of the other students. My self-confidence had been shrinking for the past few years, but at this point, I hit rock bottom. I thought that I was terrible, that I couldn’t dance, and that I didn’t deserve anything. I couldn’t wait to go to my summer intensive and get away from all of this.
Fast-forward to mid-July: Carlisle, PA. I was at my summer program, and I was starting to feel better about myself. The other girls were so kind and welcoming, and the teachers were both constructive and positive. I didn’t want to return to my old studio—and at this point, I knew I couldn’t go back. I talked to my mom, and I withdrew from my studio.
Fast-forward again. This time, we’re back home, and it’s right around back-to-school season. I found out that my favorite ballet teacher was opening her own studio, so I decided that it would be the best place for me for my senior year. I’d get great training, and the schedule would be perfect with my school schedule. It was all supposed to start on my birthday. The day before, it all came crashing down. We had found out that my old studio had decided to go after my new studio. And because of it all, I couldn’t go to my new studio until it all settled down. I know I’m a Disney freak, but I can’t say that this all has a “happily-ever-after” right now. Things are looking better, but they still aren’t perfect. However, like any good Disney movie, there’s a moral to this story.
Going back to what I said earlier, we all can easily answer the first part of this question. However, it’s the second part that’s the most important. What did you do to overcome it? I made the most of my situation. I started working out more at home and found some open classes to keep up with my technique. What did you learn from it? There is never only one way to get where you want to go. Also, the idea of losing something makes it all the more meaningful. Now I feel like I’m getting stronger, and once I get back to the studio, I’m going to work twice as hard as ever.
The point of this article wasn’t to share a sad story; it’s to help and give some advice. When you’re faced with a difficult situation, you cannot give up. Even though you might have to go around and over and upside down, you’ll get to where you need to be. Difficult times, in the long run, are just stories to make your success feel even better.
I get it. Thinking long term can be hard when you’re facing a problem that is seemingly endless. However, there are some strategies that can calm you down so you can see how small your problem really is. For starters, crying is totally acceptable, and so is ranting. When you let all of your frustrations out in a healthy way, your mind is relaxed so it can focus on getting around the problem, rather than just focusing on the problem itself. A few of us remember McCutchen’s lecture on the law of attraction. Although it may seem silly, focusing on the problem itself rather than possible solutions only makes the problem worse, and it gives you no opportunity to get to a better place. Most importantly, always find your happy place. Whether it be music, art, sports, movies, or friends, being able to see the positive aspects of life can get your mind off any difficulties.
No matter what you’re facing, just know that you’re not alone. Everything happens for a reason, and you’ll always get something valuable out of terrible situations. We all know that Disney says it best: we all are a part of the circle of life, and some rotations are just a bit longer than others. Oh, and by growing through adversity, you’ll have a really great story for your college essay.
Leave a Reply