7 answers
Aliya
Student
Modesto, California
1
Question
Asked
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What are some different ways that I can overcome challenges and struggles in life ?
As a high school student there are different challenges that I come across, but what are some different ways that I may be able to approach them?
Would you say that some challenges shape the way you are now as a person?
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7 answers
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Consultant and Freelance Writer
657
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
I think you are on the right path, because you are focusing on the most important element, which is the mindset.
John Wooden (former UCLA coach), once stated that many of us look at adversity with a combination of fear and apprehension. But, there is a side to it that we ignore, which are the positive benefits. In many ways adversity changes us and teaches life lessons that enables us to be wiser and stronger. If we had no adversity, and if we did not make mistakes, we would not learn what we need to know to achieve great things in life.
Wooden used a poem that went:
Looking back it seems to me
All the grief that had to be
Left me when the pain was over
Stronger than I was before.
The growth mindset is very important. You might not be operating at a level that you wish right now, but that is only a temporary situation. As you get more life experience and your skills develop, you will start achieving the goals and objectives that you wish.
Emphasizing growth, skills development, and maintaining the mindset that you will develop the life you wish to attain can make a huge difference in overcoming adversity.
John Wooden (former UCLA coach), once stated that many of us look at adversity with a combination of fear and apprehension. But, there is a side to it that we ignore, which are the positive benefits. In many ways adversity changes us and teaches life lessons that enables us to be wiser and stronger. If we had no adversity, and if we did not make mistakes, we would not learn what we need to know to achieve great things in life.
Wooden used a poem that went:
Looking back it seems to me
All the grief that had to be
Left me when the pain was over
Stronger than I was before.
The growth mindset is very important. You might not be operating at a level that you wish right now, but that is only a temporary situation. As you get more life experience and your skills develop, you will start achieving the goals and objectives that you wish.
Emphasizing growth, skills development, and maintaining the mindset that you will develop the life you wish to attain can make a huge difference in overcoming adversity.
Howard Christiansen
Professor
48
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Howard’s Answer
After many years of remaining silent, there is something I need to get off my back. While the pandemic and online teaching were challenging times in 2021 and I lost some very close friends, the real reasons why I left Berkeley College remained unsaid until now. I dedicated a great deal of my life to teaching and coaching and I am thankful for those opportunities yet very few people knew exactly what I did. I was an assistant chairperson that consistently worked very hard to ensure the business department faculty were motivated and engaged. I often performed duties outside of the realm of my position but never complained because I understood the important mission of the College. In basketball there were also so many activities that I undertook to maintain the professionalism of the team and the college. Even when I became Emeritus there were so many things I accomplished behind the scenes “to keep the ball rolling”. In August of 2020 is when the trouble began. First, my salary for basketball was cut almost in half yet I never complained but the workload was heavy. Then in that same month, additional classes were added to my contract by someone who just received a leadership position in the department. This was unforeseeable in that this person did not understand that my class load was originally decreased so I could spend more time recruiting to build a previous championship season(s). These were the rationale for m y decision to leave, I miss my Berkeley family so much but now I needed to move on and be with my family in upstate New York. I wish you the very best success moving forward and hope to visit in the future. Best wishes always.
PS: My best regards to some wonderful leaders in the college, namely Diane Recinos, Will Moya and Patty Greer
PS: My best regards to some wonderful leaders in the college, namely Diane Recinos, Will Moya and Patty Greer
Jose Andres Aragon
Financial Analyst
2
Answers
Panama City, Panama
Updated
Jose Andres’s Answer
Hello Aliya,
It is true that life comes with lots of challenges, so it's important to remember that it's bigger than just our jobs, schools, or immediate goals.
Striking a balance in all areas of your life is key. When you face challenges, try not to take things too personally – often, setbacks are just steppingstones, not reflections of your worth.
Stay adaptable, because life can surprise you, and that's part of the beauty of it! Give your best in everything you do, but also understand that it's perfectly fine if things don't always go as planned.
Embracing this mindset can make the journey a lot more enjoyable and fulfilling. Keep your chin up – you're doing great!
It is true that life comes with lots of challenges, so it's important to remember that it's bigger than just our jobs, schools, or immediate goals.
Striking a balance in all areas of your life is key. When you face challenges, try not to take things too personally – often, setbacks are just steppingstones, not reflections of your worth.
Stay adaptable, because life can surprise you, and that's part of the beauty of it! Give your best in everything you do, but also understand that it's perfectly fine if things don't always go as planned.
Embracing this mindset can make the journey a lot more enjoyable and fulfilling. Keep your chin up – you're doing great!
Howard Christiansen
Professor
48
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Howard’s Answer
Life presents us all with hurdles, and there's no universal solution to overcome them. When you encounter a difficulty and it brings you down, it's crucial to understand why you're feeling this way. Do you need a helping hand from a loved one, a friend, or a classmate, or do you feel confident tackling the issue on your own? Whenever I've faced a hurdle in my life, I find solace in discussing it with my sister or a friend. It's comforting to know there's someone ready to share their wisdom, and who knows, they might have faced a similar situation and can provide valuable advice.
Maintaining an optimistic attitude during tough times can be incredibly beneficial. Try to focus on the silver linings that can balance out your hardships. I remember a saying that goes, "Always see the glass as half full, not half empty." Once you adopt this perspective, you can start crafting strategies to refill your glass. Maybe you can discover a way to assist others, which could also end up benefiting you. Contributing to a person or a community is a fantastic way to show your concern for those who might need help more than you do. This could make you realize that your problem might not be as daunting as it seems.
Aliya, I hope my words have provided some assistance to you. I wholeheartedly wish you the very best on your life's journey.
Maintaining an optimistic attitude during tough times can be incredibly beneficial. Try to focus on the silver linings that can balance out your hardships. I remember a saying that goes, "Always see the glass as half full, not half empty." Once you adopt this perspective, you can start crafting strategies to refill your glass. Maybe you can discover a way to assist others, which could also end up benefiting you. Contributing to a person or a community is a fantastic way to show your concern for those who might need help more than you do. This could make you realize that your problem might not be as daunting as it seems.
Aliya, I hope my words have provided some assistance to you. I wholeheartedly wish you the very best on your life's journey.
Brijesh Vashishth
Technology Consultant
10
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Brijesh’s Answer
You're embarking on a journey full of excitement, potential, and perhaps some distinctive hurdles. Tackling these obstacles with an optimistic outlook and tenacity can drastically change the game. Trust in your capability to conquer hardships, and see any setbacks as golden chances for growth and knowledge. Simplify your objectives into achievable steps, and rejoice in every minor triumph along the path. Reach out to reliable friends, family, or mentors when things get tough. Don't forget, taking care of yourself is key. Give priority to your physical, emotional, and mental health through activities such as working out, meditating, and getting ample sleep. Good time management and organization skills will assist you in juggling your tasks and prevent you from feeling inundated.
It's crucial to understand that challenges don't characterize you, but they significantly contribute to molding who you become. They offer the opportunity to build resilience, enhance problem-solving skills, and shape your character. Welcome failures as chances for growth, and consider them as stepping stones leading to your ultimate success. Bear in mind that every hurdle you overcome is a testament to your strength and perseverance. You possess the power to turn challenges into priceless learning experiences, ultimately sculpting you into a more competent and resilient person. Keep pushing ahead, and you'll emerge from each challenge more robust than before.
It's crucial to understand that challenges don't characterize you, but they significantly contribute to molding who you become. They offer the opportunity to build resilience, enhance problem-solving skills, and shape your character. Welcome failures as chances for growth, and consider them as stepping stones leading to your ultimate success. Bear in mind that every hurdle you overcome is a testament to your strength and perseverance. You possess the power to turn challenges into priceless learning experiences, ultimately sculpting you into a more competent and resilient person. Keep pushing ahead, and you'll emerge from each challenge more robust than before.
Arun Kumar
Software developer
1
Answer
Albany, New York
Updated
Arun’s Answer
Hello Aliya -
This is a great question. And since you have asked this, I am sure there are lot of things you would be doing to tackle various things..
High school is a fun period and teaches lot of things. Based on my experience, you would have to decide what challenges you are going to tackle/solve and what you are going to ignore. Remember ignoring something is the hardest part as there would be a constant battle within yourself to not ignore it. Remind yourself of the good things you have achieved, by resisting a temptation.
There are some challenges which will help you grow in your life and career. You must try to resolve them and/or create a plan to handle them. These are the ones , which are going to shape you as a person. You need to find examples from your real-life situation to assess in following way ;
- Is it related to my career/study/family/personal life. Try to create a separation between your school work / studies and things which are not related to school like sports/Music etc which would be based on your hobbies. These can be any other extra curricular activities.
- If you long term goal is to pursue something which related to (say) career (example - technology, stem etc) try to build a PLAN for it and take baby steps to overcome it. DO not put them on-shelf. Key is to stay focused on your goal. Remember this plan will get auto-corrected as you work more towards it. So not bother if plan is right or wrong. Identifying a goal and building a plan will help you get around any challenge.
- If your immediate/short term focus is to do something good in your non-school related work, try to work on them. These hurdles are the ones , you can ignore them as well..
So, Aliya it is very important for you to find out first what is going to be your focus area, then decide whether it's a long term or short term. Then tackle the impediments accordingly. Take guidance from your family, or friend who is a well-wisher in order to determine the best !! Do not get overwhelmed with things, there would be times to go easy on yourself. And it is perfectly OK to do so.
I wish you all the very best and I am sure you will achieve anything you wish to achieve.
This is a great question. And since you have asked this, I am sure there are lot of things you would be doing to tackle various things..
High school is a fun period and teaches lot of things. Based on my experience, you would have to decide what challenges you are going to tackle/solve and what you are going to ignore. Remember ignoring something is the hardest part as there would be a constant battle within yourself to not ignore it. Remind yourself of the good things you have achieved, by resisting a temptation.
There are some challenges which will help you grow in your life and career. You must try to resolve them and/or create a plan to handle them. These are the ones , which are going to shape you as a person. You need to find examples from your real-life situation to assess in following way ;
- Is it related to my career/study/family/personal life. Try to create a separation between your school work / studies and things which are not related to school like sports/Music etc which would be based on your hobbies. These can be any other extra curricular activities.
- If you long term goal is to pursue something which related to (say) career (example - technology, stem etc) try to build a PLAN for it and take baby steps to overcome it. DO not put them on-shelf. Key is to stay focused on your goal. Remember this plan will get auto-corrected as you work more towards it. So not bother if plan is right or wrong. Identifying a goal and building a plan will help you get around any challenge.
- If your immediate/short term focus is to do something good in your non-school related work, try to work on them. These hurdles are the ones , you can ignore them as well..
So, Aliya it is very important for you to find out first what is going to be your focus area, then decide whether it's a long term or short term. Then tackle the impediments accordingly. Take guidance from your family, or friend who is a well-wisher in order to determine the best !! Do not get overwhelmed with things, there would be times to go easy on yourself. And it is perfectly OK to do so.
I wish you all the very best and I am sure you will achieve anything you wish to achieve.
Joan Shea
Global Marketing Director
108
Answers
Newcastle, WA
Updated
Joan’s Answer
Hello Aliya!
Navigating through High School can indeed be a tough journey for many, but remember, it's also a time of great growth and learning.
Here are some empowering strategies that can help you conquer any obstacles you might face:
Stay organized: Implementing a system, like using a planner or a calendar, can assist in managing your assignments and duties. This simple step can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and reduce stress.
Prioritize sleep: As a teenager, your body requires more rest than adults. Strive to get a solid 8-10 hours of sleep each night. This will ensure you're energized, focused, and ready to tackle the day.
Cultivate positive relationships: High school is a crucial time to build a reliable network of support. Surround yourself with individuals who inspire and motivate you. Steer clear of relationships that breed stress and anxiety.
Manage stress effectively: High school can be a pressure cooker at times, but there are numerous techniques to alleviate stress. Consider incorporating deep breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga into your routine to help you unwind.
Don't hesitate to seek help: If you find yourself grappling with a problem, don't shy away from asking for help. Your teachers, parents, or a counselor are there to offer guidance and support.
Remember, encountering challenges is a part of life. What truly matters is how you respond to them. By adhering to these strategies, you can triumph over the hurdles of high school and realize your dreams.
Navigating through High School can indeed be a tough journey for many, but remember, it's also a time of great growth and learning.
Here are some empowering strategies that can help you conquer any obstacles you might face:
Stay organized: Implementing a system, like using a planner or a calendar, can assist in managing your assignments and duties. This simple step can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and reduce stress.
Prioritize sleep: As a teenager, your body requires more rest than adults. Strive to get a solid 8-10 hours of sleep each night. This will ensure you're energized, focused, and ready to tackle the day.
Cultivate positive relationships: High school is a crucial time to build a reliable network of support. Surround yourself with individuals who inspire and motivate you. Steer clear of relationships that breed stress and anxiety.
Manage stress effectively: High school can be a pressure cooker at times, but there are numerous techniques to alleviate stress. Consider incorporating deep breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga into your routine to help you unwind.
Don't hesitate to seek help: If you find yourself grappling with a problem, don't shy away from asking for help. Your teachers, parents, or a counselor are there to offer guidance and support.
Remember, encountering challenges is a part of life. What truly matters is how you respond to them. By adhering to these strategies, you can triumph over the hurdles of high school and realize your dreams.