Written by Cai Hechun
Nick Vujicic, born with tetra-amelia syndrome, is confronted with huge challenges daily – he struggles to move around, suffers the pitiful looks of others and even the simple task of feeding himself becomes a nearly insurmountable difficulty. However, instead of succumbing, Nick takes the vicissitudes of life in his stride and the process of going through these difficulties makes him emerge as a stronger person, who is able to continually inspire and motivate people around the world. Nick’s story is a prime example that shows challenges are not necessarily setbacks. In my opinion, the ups and downs of life, a harsh environment and a myriad of failures that youngsters are confronted with can be great assets to teenagers and young adults.
To begin with, bitter defeats in their pursuit of success can be catalysts that provide valuable feedback and inspire brilliant ideas. Continuous failures can fuel one to cautiously introspect and better their approaches to the issue. For example, kicking off his business in a derelict garage in California after he had dropped out of his university, the ingenious inventor, Steve Jobs, was faced with multiple failures when he first launched the computers and laptops he designed. Undeterred, Jobs studied his unsuccessful prototypes and quickly realized the incompetence and flaws in his products. It was this precious information that bestowed him with a unique insight into the design of electronic devices and fueled young Jobs’ future success of inventing the revolutionary iPhone. Challenges and difficulties faced by vibrant, dynamic and creative youths can be sparks that ignite new creations and ideas.
Moreover, hardships and adversity can also stimulate young people to strive, persevere and realize their full potential. Harsh living conditions, abject poverty and poor education can instill important values like determination, resilience and courage—qualities that are crucial for youths to endure hardships and realize their dreams. Living in a less developed, poverty-stricken country like Sierra Leone, 17-year-old Kelvin Doe was deprived of the rights to receive standard education, access clean water and enjoy a reliable electricity supply. These adverse conditions toughened up Kelvin. Frustrated and unsatisfied with such environment, he taught himself basic electricity knowledge and created an electricity generator with recycled materials from the rubbish pile. His inspiring story is proof that difficulties serve to motivate youngsters to strive and work harder.
However, some may argue that the emotional aftermath and ramifications of challenges can be so overwhelming that young people, who are relatively immature and still in their formative years, may find it difficult to cope with and buckle under the pressure. Nevertheless, as the saying goes, “no pain, no gain.” Only with adversity and challenges can young people learn to face up to the harsh reality of life. Only with struggles and suffering can youths learn to persevere and achieve great breakthroughs. The inability of the Strawberry Generation—teenagers who are sheltered from failures and difficulties in life—to cope with pressure and live independently can be proof that challenges are indeed part and parcel for young people to achieve greater heights.
In conclusion, adversities and challenges can sometimes be touchstones for success and great accomplishments of ambitious and determined young people. Instead of viewing failures as a taboo and shielding young people from the vicissitudes of life, it is time for over-protective parents to step back and encourage their beloved children to face challenges themselves.
MICHTANNN 