Title: Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do

Tough times never last, but tough people do. The refusal of my arm made me learn this intimately. It all started when I stepped onto the soccer field, ready to win. Approximately thirty minutes into the game, the opponent’s attacker was charging towards our goal. All I could think about was stealing the ball from him, which I managed to do, but something terrible happened. I fell and landed on my left shoulder. I was immediately rushed to the hospital, where I went in and out of consciousness due to the extreme pain. Keep in mind that this is in Ethiopia, where medical care is not exactly timely, and pain control is not a priority. After what seemed like forever, the diagnostic test confirmed that my clavicle was completely shattered.

Shortly afterward, my mother arrived and started an outpour of questions that any loving and concerned mother would in such situations. Soon she calmed down, and the doctor informed her that I would have to wear a sling for at least five weeks. While leaving the hospital, my mother reprimanded me for playing soccer because she recalled the words, she said on my first day joining the team, “Better to pursue knowledge than a ball.” The trouble, however, was that I had a Drafting Orientation final exam. Indifferent to her censure, I focused on the test and how I would manage it. How exactly was I supposed to take this final, which required the use of both hands to draw the four basic projections of complex figures, in my condition?

My friends and family advised me to withdraw from the class because it would be better than getting a terrible grade on my transcript. Despite their counsel, I was determined to take the exam and give it my best shot. Finally, the day of the final arrived. While doing the technical drawing portion of the exam, I noticed that I was quickly running out of time. I began to panic when I realized that it would be impossible to finish the exam at the pace I was going. Panic mixed with anger turned into involuntary tears. The exam proctor, who genuinely felt sorry for me, attempted to console me, but to no avail. Then, suddenly, I remembered the words of my coach, “Giving up is never an option!” He would always say that to us, even if we had no chance of winning. As I stretched my left hand to hold the compass, I felt a sharp pain that made me recoil, and my hand was very sluggish as if it had departed from my body. I realized that I had to resort to unconventional methods due to the betrayal of my arm, such as using my lips, elbow, and chin to stabilize the compass. I was the last person in the class to finish the exam, but I finished it, nonetheless. The exam proctor was astonished by my determination and sudden change of attitude. I refused to give up.

Two weeks later, the results of the final exam were released. To my surprise, I was one of the two people in the class with the highest grade. My unfortunate situation taught me an extremely invaluable lesson. Life is not about what happens to us, but how we react to it. I learned the extremely important role perspective plays in one’s life. No matter what happens in life, we always have the freedom to choose how we react. That year, I ended up playing as a central defensive midfielder, one of the toughest positions in soccer, and became the best central defensive midfielder in the club. Sometimes, unfortunate events are a blessing in disguise because they teach us the most important life lessons.

Disclaimer: Using a portion of this work disguised as your own is plagiarism! The essay has been edited to increase anonymity.