Overcoming Obstacles Research Paper

Throughout our lives, every one of us encounters an obstacle that, on the surface, seems too great to overcome, it is an obstacle that scares us, one that causes us think, “Perhaps I will not be able to handle this.” In life, this may come in the form of a move or relocation, loss of a family member, divorce, or any similar occurrence. In addition to the stresses that are present in our everyday lives, many of the obstacles we face cause tremendous strain on our educational journeys as well. This adversity is not important, what is important, however is how we react to the adversity we are faced with. Will we stand up for ourselves against it and fight back to find a solution or will we let it destroy us? For me, one of the greatest obstacles I faced in life and in my educational career occurred when the school I attended, Monticello Independent, consolidated with the local county school, Wayne County Schools. Despite this difficulty, I was able to overcome the challenges that I faced and grow stronger as a result.

Monticello Independent was a place where I felt like I had a place.

From the third grade up until the beginning of my high school career, this school was where I found myself every day. Needless to say, I had found my place within the complex texture of the school, I belonged to something far greater than just myself, I was part of a family. All the little aspects of Monticello made it feel like home. If I had a problem, I knew plenty of staff at the school that I felt comfortable discussing the issues with. All of the teachers were there not simply for a job, but because they had a passion for teaching. As a result of this passion every student felt as though they were individually cared about and not just another student. After the consolidation, all of these feelings were gone, and it was here that I found the root of my struggle — I needed to find a place where I belonged like I once had at

Monticello.
The process of beginning to cope with the consolidation was difficult. My first instinct was to lean heavily on friends for the family environment that I had lost. This was unfair to them, they should not have had to, nor should they ever have to, be burdened by the entire weight of the difficulties that I or anyone else faces. It was for this reason that I could not depend on them, they were unable to provide the feeling that I was seeking out. It was then that I discovered the place that I can now call a home and a family — the band program. Wayne County’s band program provided all the feelings that I longed to regain. Once again I was part of something larger and more meaningful than myself or my own personal endeavours. All the members were all there for the love of music, the directors were kind and welcoming and have always been there whenever there was an issue.
When my beloved Monticello Independent School had to consolidate with Wayne County I faced the greatest challenge I have encountered so far in my educational journey. Like most all challenges in life, I had the choice to fight back and develop a solution and I had the option to let it keep me down. Honestly, part of me wanted to just stay down and be miserable, but I knew that this would not be a life that I could be happy living, something had to be done. The lessons that I learned from overcoming this challenge are continuing to apply to my life now as I attend the Craft Academy and will continue to apply as I go on to college and to a career.