In every person's life, there comes a point where major trials and tribulations come into play. Sometimes these obstacles are ones that come with a bit of notice, while others tend to blindside an individual. Both can be equally detrimental to one's well-being, and the impact from said obstacles can be carried for a lifetime. Overcoming these challenges may appear to be an impossible task, but oftentimes, in our seemingly darkest hour, humans come to learn just how capable we are of pushing forward.

Personally, the reason why I chose this particular subject is due to the fact that I've recently come out of such a predicament. For the longest time, the biggest obstacle present in my life dealt with self-confidence. No matter how much I accomplished both in and out of the classroom (mostly in), I kept looking for the approval of others. This is a normal human emotion, but in my case being accepted by others came before me being accepted by myself. When you're in that mindset, it can be very difficult to achieve the goals you set for yourself. That realization impacted me in a big way, and for awhile it was difficult to convince myself to believe one single phrase; the person who's opinion matters most is your own. When I began to embody that belief, it felt as though a giant weight had been lifted off my shoulders. For the first time in my life, I could felt fully confident in myself, as I no longer strived to fall along a certain line socially.

While it may sound foolish to hold the opinions of others in such high regard, the fact of the matter is many people follow a similar pattern. From a very young age, the society we develop in encourages social interaction. If those who aren't socially accepted don't come to terms with their uniqueness (which is rarely a bad thing), how can they maintain self-confidence? When family members minimize or poke fun at the successes one of their own has made, would that person not view themselves as someone who is unequal to those around them? The world we live in can be filled with beauty and acceptance, yet at other times be plagued by judgment and unfair treatment. Still, it's important to remember that not all battles are fought with just one combatant.

The next time you feel as though you're the only one who has challenges laid before them, take a moment to glance at those around you (not in a creepy way). Each of them has faced obstacles in life, some similar to those you've experienced, others not so. Like you, there was probably a time where they too felt as though their challenges were insurmountable. However, what matters is that they're still pushing forward, and that in it of itself is something to be commended for. The human body has the ability to overcome a great deal of punishment, both physical and physiological. At the end of the day, it's up to the individual whether or not they take advantage of that ability, but I'm not going to lie and say it's an easy road.

There are going to be times in life where you doubt yourself, where you can't imagine taking that big step forward. You'll feel battered, exhausted, beaten, and unable to continue. This is the moment that your character comes into play, as you can either prove to yourself that you can rise above, or allow the challenges to win. Ultimately the decision is up to you, but the sense of accomplishment when standing tall against an obstacle is incomparable.