In my adolescent life, many obstacles and unexpected occurrences have knocked me down from my “high horse. ” Despite minor setbacks and the problems a person can experience, I’ve realized that at the end of the day, the majority of the world does not care. The clock does not stop ticking and the world continue to turn. In order to live a successful life, I have come to the conclusion that every person on this planet experiences downfalls. I just have to put all my problems and fears aside, exert my confidence and walk like a man.
In order to walk like a man, a degree of confidence is needed. I have experienced numerous downfalls in my life that have made me crawl into the darkest black hole. This dark hole was like my comfort zone “a place far away from the stresses of life, school, rugby and family issues. ” For many years, from around the time I was thirteen years of age, I suffered from an extremely harsh condition “ acne. No matter what medication, Vitamin A pills and expensive creams I used, nothing could remove the large, puss “ filled lumps that infested my arms, back and most importantly, my face.
I could not bare talking to a person, as I always noticed how their eyes would wander along my face, acknowledging every toxic lump. I was constantly reminded of my hideous features and immediately felt degraded every day for three years. Being top five of the grade three years in a row and becoming a prefect in the same year, I wondered why I never walked the corridors with my head held high, shoulders back and exerting the confidence I deserved to have. I had a beautiful face and I excelled in everything I did. I remember gazing into the mirror one day and finally accepting myself.
Yes, I had impurities and faults, but I had so much to be grateful for. I finally felt comfortable in my own skin. Despite the acne, I decided to walk proudly through the school corridors, for I know that I had nothing to feel ashamed about. Exactly one month passed and my skin, arms and back had completely healed. Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent. Every person on this plant experiences devastating occurrences, but it is how they handle it that makes the difference. I have experienced numerous setbacks and losses that definitely scarred my being.
I stopped seeing my friends, participating in rugby and my school grades dropped dramatically by ten percent. My confidence no longer existed. “Confidence is the habit that can be developed by acting as if you already had the confidence you desire to have,” Brian Tracy. Despite all my failures, I decided to pretend that I had nothing to feel ashamed about. I started to handle the situation maturely, and finally put my rugby boots on after eleven months. Sometimes, it is how one picks themselves up and realises what they do possess, that gives them confidence to live to their full potential.
Walking like a man and exerting confidence in myself, helped me gain respect from the people around me. Obstacles, setbacks, judgemental people and rude remarks bounced off my impenetrable aura. People accept you once you accept yourself. In life, many obstacles and unexpected occurrences have knocked me down from my high horse. I had finally realised my own worth and all my brilliant achievements. I held my head high, my shoulders back, exerted my confidence and walked like a man, for I had every reason to.
