“Struggles and Criticisms are Pre-requisites to Greatness”

By Carly 

“Struggles and criticisms are pre-requisites to greatness”, stated Prince Ea

This quote has shaped how I view my life. I have begun to focus on how I can learn from my struggles and challenging experiences to strive to be a better and stronger, more kind and more intelligent, conscientious woman. 

Instead of allowing your struggles, criticisms, and difficulties to put you down and discourage you, focus on how they can help shape and benefit your future. Don’t get me wrong, it is totally fine for you to feel upset and disappointed. Embrace those feelings. They are completely valid. However, I have found it important to also pay attention to the good that comes from the bad. 

Every woman you meet has undergone struggles, criticisms, and judgement. However, that has never stopped them. They still stand there before you, wiser and stronger from those experiences. This should teach you never to give up. You are strong. You are brave. You are intelligent. You are resilient. 

Throughout your life, you too have and will undergo challenges. Present day, society can make women feel objectified, disrespected, unintelligent, and insecure. I am here to tell you that you do not deserve to feel those ways. You are a human being. You deserve respect. You are brilliant. You are beautiful. You are amazing.  

I have met many powerful and impressive women throughout my life. The best boss I have ever had is a woman. She made the employees feel listened to, cared about, supported, and was very successful in her position. I have had meetings with a woman ranked highly in a very competitive company who worked her way to the top as an engineer. She is very impressive, intelligent, and hardworking. Some of my best friends are women, and they are incredible. They are brilliant and driven. They care so much about others and respect everyone the best they can. All of these women are my role models. There are many women in my life that I look up to and that I am proud to know. Likewise, I’m sure someone is proud to know you and is impressed by who you are. Everyone, specifically every woman, has strengths and skills to admire. You are admired. You are strong. You can make a difference. 

I encourage you to find a woman you look up to. Please get to know her and why she is the way she is. I also encourage you to find the qualities in yourself that make you a great person to look up to. Determine why you are empowered. Determine why you are poised. Determine what makes you special. Determine how you can make a difference and help others. 

I have become empowered by surrounding myself with other women I look up to and who inspired me. Seeing other women accomplish their goals and achieve success while being kind and resilient has encouraged me to follow the same path. Cheer on other women throughout their journeys to success and bettering society. We can progress forward together.