How to Beat the Odds and Adversity

As a student, a person always seems to find themselves facing some sort of trial or overwhelming adversity. This may come in the form of a family passing, a stressful class load, finals week, or even a dramatic change in their health condition. I am here to speak of all of this and more through a simple portion of my own testimony. I do this in order to help all who read the article that find themselves relating to any of the areas I speak of. Being a part of this society means that we are even closer together than before; from fellow students, to our own private study group. The problem is, that many of us do not connect on a personal manner. Sure, checking in on the site everyday offers us some connection, but we need to be connecting on a whole new level if we are to guide each other through this career we call college. I have personally faced many adversities in my 37 years and have continued to march on no matter what stood against me. All who are reading this short article can do just that as well! So sit back, relax, and get ready to see what stress looks like in my life and learn how you too WILL succeed as long as you keep your chin up and dedication at its highest setting.

Growing up I was handed a very raw deal. It was a rarity to have food set on the table or even a pair of shoes on my feet. My mother struggled with a variety of mental health issues and found herself engulfed with substances that she thought made the world livable. I never attended a school longer than two months at a time due to the constant moving and injuries  inflicted upon me. Yet, I marched on. Having no address because a license plate does not offer a zip code, school was only a dream to me and not a reality. Further down the road through trauma after trauma and stress after stress, the Lord showed me my true calling in life, caring for others. I mean after all, I had nothing but experience in that matter and still, amazingly, still regained love for those around me. After being emancipated at 14 years old, I returned to finish out and go for my dream. I became a CNA/Med Tech and I never looked back. My mother has since passed away and through that pain, I knew that my five children deserved more in life than what she was able to give me. Now, in my late thirties, my dedication and devotion to my goals in life has brought me back to school to achieve the title of nurse practitioner.   Nothing is to hard to achieve or too far out of reach to set our sights on. When life comes to call, it brings strife and struggle at every turn. It is only through perseverance and support from our fellow man, can we succeed in our hearts greatest desires.

In order to properly encourage all who read this piece, I must inform you of the struggles we all can relate with in regard to this college life. Semesters come and semesters go, and the tiring truth that is college haunts us as we feel guilt for getting a full nights rest. There always seems to be another final around the corner and a persons health fades just by getting up the next day to do it all over again. Whether it be strict and nosey parents pushing you to your limits, or children that count on your example, we all have our burdens to bare. I am living proof of just what devotion against all the odds can result in. Every one of you is entitled to a happy tomorrow and a better today. Keep your head held high and march on through whatever life throws at you!!!! In order to truly be a leader, a person must humble themselves and serve those around them. It is only through self-sacrifice and selflessness that any of us can be the poster child of success.

During my second semester in college I suffered three strokes within a year and had to work very hard to relearn my alphabet, support my family, hold a management position to an assisted living, on top of keeping my grades up at school. Seems awfully stressful doesn't it? Looking back I do not even realize myself just where I found the strength. Any other person would have thrown in the towel and listened to the doctors, friends, and family members and put school on the back burner for a while. I did NOT see this as an option to consider. I knew that there were five beautiful babies and a wonderful man at home that relied on me more than I could ever understand and it was that fact that kept me alive to battle the next stroke. Blessings come in many forms to us, we just need to learn how to notice them and take them to heart. The blessings of another student in need that you were lucky enough to help them with, little smiles waiting for you every day when you walk in the door, the simple act of waking up, and enjoying a quiet break between classes when the sun came out just for you. March on through the adversities, never give up, never loose hope. There is a world who's waiting for you and possibilities that know no end. Are you willing to take in that breath and hold your head a bit higher? Are you ready to say you are worth it and strong enough to face the day? Are you willing to grab the bull by the horns and sacrifice yourself for another and reap the blessings that follow? If you answered yes to even one of these, you WILL succeed, you WILL beat the odds, and you WILL stare stress and adversity in the face and proudly say I DID IT!

In conclusion to this piece, I offer up some words of encouragement for all who have chosen to read this. IO stand before you a person who was the statistic of fear and failure for 37 years straight, but through hard work and devotion to the goals in my life, I find myself a part of the honors society. THE HONORS SOCIETY! Reading the previous words would lead no one to the point of the honors society. Miracles can happen when a person dreams big enough to dare and achieve it. A test is just a test, and extra class or two is only an added challenge. A life full of regret that you gave up lasts forever. So as I close remember, we are all in this together. None of us travel this road alone. I challenge you here today to see someone who is struggling and lift them up besides you, take them in and help out, show them the example they need to beat the odds as well!