Dear adversity,

Lately, you and I have become very well acquainted. I’ve heard that becoming familiar with you helps build character.

The truth is, I used to be very afraid of you. I used to think that being told no or going through a rough patch was the end of the world. But, then I realized that the world didn’t actually end when everything didn’t go my way.

Growing up, I went through my own share of hardships, but while they were occurring, I thought them to be normal. It's only now that I look back upon my life that I see that you and I have lived side by side for quite a long time.

You taught me that I need to fight for everything that I have—a trait that has gotten me far, but also made me face some circumstances that could have been avoided if I didn’t fight. I’ve learned to stand up for myself in times of uncertainty, but it seems that I mistake everything for you and mistakenly think everything is a challenge. Sometimes that leads to me fighting when everything is fine, thus creating a challenge when one wasn’t even present to begin with.

But, regardless, the challenges are your children. Knowing you the way I do only makes me stronger. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have learned some invaluable lessons. I wouldn’t have learned not to fight against everything, and that you aren’t present in every situation. I wouldn’t have learned that you don’t present yourself to ruin lives, but instead to enrich them. I wouldn’t have learned that you're necessary to grow.

Without you, adversity, I wouldn’t have developed into the young leader that I am today, who wants to change the world.

There's a saying that goes, “Look for the rainbow in the rain and look for the stars in the darkness.” Without rain, rainbows aren’t possible, and without the dark of the night, stars can’t shine. Without you, adversity, some great things cannot transpire. It’s been said that “if you’re knocked down 100 times, stand up 101 times,” and, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take.” Therefore, it's my duty to use you, adversity, as a form of guidance, to get back up and take chances and know that if I fall back down, I will surely have something to stand back up for.

The blessing in hitting rock bottom is that you can only go up from there. So while my current predicament may not be ideal, I know that, like in the past, I can overcome and become a better, more successful person because of it.

If it weren't for the adversity I faced during childhood, I would never have found refuge in Future Business Leaders of America, which transformed me into a passionate leader and opened so many doors for me.

Thank you, adversity, for making me realize that nobody can love me until I let them, and that starts with loving myself first.

To be honest, I wouldn’t want to go through life without you, adversity. It’s important to have both successes and failures and to remain humble when life is going great and faithful when life isn't going so great.

Greatness lies outside your comfort zone, and I thank you, adversity, for forcing me out of my comfort zone. Without you, I would never know what it takes to succeed and what it truly means to be a leader. Adversity has taught me that everybody is going through something, and sometimes it's important to show grace and be there for them, just because you have faith that someday they will repay you with grace of their own.

Thank you, adversity, for making me into the strong, young leader I am today.