The Power of Overcoming Obstacles and Defeat by Malachi

The Power of Overcoming Obstacles and Defeat by Malachi - December 2020 Scholarship Essay

In this life, obstacles are almost guaranteed for just about anyone. Often times, these obstacles can be hard to deal with. If a person is not willing to defeat that obstacle by any means necessary, it is possible they will instead be defeated. I have, unfortunately, had to learn that the “hard” way. Many times I have felt like I was alone and like giving up was my only option. Eventually, I decided to rewrite my script. Instead of allowing the defeats to define me, I began creating my own definitions for them. In my short time thus far on earth, I learned that simple things help define who you are to include the actions you take and who you associate yourself with. I had gotten comfortable with letting obstacles defeat me, and I must admit the battle was difficult, but my decision to make a change, invest in myself and really understand my self-worth has been one of the best decisions I have made.

My father would always quote Henri Nouwen and say, “the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity or power, but self-rejection.” When I would hear that quote, it stuck with me, and I started to realize that I was doing that to myself. I was trapped in self-rejection. I pushed away everyone who cared, started to procrastinate and became lazy. Instead of getting things done and surrounding myself with positivity, I put things to the side, which ultimately resulted in more setbacks than progress. I decided to shake it off, and I started to make things happen. I got out of the habit of being lazy, because I realized that that was merely my way of attempting to keep myself from facing rejection. When I began to greet life with a more hands on approach, I stumbled upon many strengths I had no idea I possessed. I am glad to know that this is just the beginning.

There are many goals that I want to achieve, a lot of places that I want to go and a lot of things that I want to see. I realize that cannot do that unless I have a mentality to work hard and put my best foot forward, despite what may be in front of me. Every day I challenge myself to be better than I was the day before, and I can only do that by working hard. Whatever goal that I have in mind, I have to give it my all, and I plan to do exactly that.