Personal Narrative: Lessons Learned In Overcoming Obstacles

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (250-650)

My brother and I peeked through the crack of the door. Slowly, we attempted to leave our bedroom but were paralyzed as we heard our father screaming. Immediately, I told my brother to go back to bed, and knowingly he closed his eyes. I was petrified for my mother, and I wanted to know if she was okay. Trembling with fear, I walked towards the living room. As I entered, my heart stopped, my feet became numb, and I knew exactly what he was about to do. I could never watch as his hand forced my mother to her knees. I wanted to scream, but I knew if I did he would hit me, too. Instinctively I closed my eyes praying he would stop, praying someone would help, praying it would all

Being so young I was too naive to understand that the situation I was in was only temporary. The stress I put on myself drained and exhausted me. I noticed myself changing: I become thinner, I looked more tired and worn out and I struggled to sleep every night. It seemed as if no matter how hard I tried I was always unhappy. I kept asking myself if what happened to me was my fault. I would constantly think of ways I could have changed the past. But I realized I was only hurting myself. I needed to get out of this dark hole. So I changed my mentality on the way I was living my life. I began accepting what happened, I started getting help from others and soon after I noticed I was happier and healthier. I’ve come to understand that instead of fixating on the thoughts of changing my past experiences, I must be willing to accept and grow from them. I’ve learned that the challenges I faced in the past do not define the life I will make for myself in the