The New York Times Editorial Contest: Does Suffering Make Us Stronger and Lead to Success?

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               Everybody wants to succeed in life, whether it is spiritually, emotionally or financially, yet many people give up during the journey. Those who make it become successful and achieve their dreams, are held in the highest esteem and one may think that these prosperous people start out better than others, but in actuality some of these outstanding people embrace their disabilities and learn from their mistakes. Suffering may make success harder to achieve, but it makes us stronger once we emerge from it. An old saying correctly envisages suffering as “whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.”

               Suffering in one’s life can lead to new paths, a new way of looking at things, and success. Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani woman, was shot by a Taliban gunman and miraculously survived. She suffered from the three bullets, which could very much end her life, but it didn't, and made her an internationally well-known public activist figure. She not only gained fame and won the Nobel Peace Prize, she took this as a sign that she should spread the importance of education. Had she not gone through this suffering, her voice may never have been heard.

               Someone who suffers from disabilities must learn to do things differently and gain success through hard work, dedication, strong beliefs and commitments. Woodrow Wilson suffered from dyslexia and strokes his entire life yet he was the 28th President of the United States, professor at Princeton University, and an author of a book on George Washington. Had he not overcome his disabilities, Wilson might never have become a President, a professor, or an author.

               It is inevitably true that suffering can cause some people to quit and become the opposite of successful, however I believe that suffering makes us stronger and leads us to success because the knowledge and skills that emerge after the suffering are beneficial to the growth of an individual. Everybody starts out differently and the tasks in life that are given are also different. Those who became successful also experience negative events; however they learn to take advantage of their disabilities and suffering. Suffering and success go hand in hand, because this dictates who you are as an individual and prepares you for what is to come. (373 words)

Works Cited:

1. Kantor, Jodi. "Malala Yousafzai, Youngest Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Adds to Her Achievements and Expectations." The New York Times. The New York Times, 10 Oct. 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/11/world/asia/malala-yousafzai-youngest-nobel-peace-prize-winner-adds-to-her-achievements-and-expectations.html>.

2. "William H. Calvin's THE THROWING MADONNA (Ch.12: The Woodrow Wilson Story )." William H. Calvin's THE THROWING MADONNA (Ch.12: The Woodrow Wilson Story ). Web. 8 Mar. 2015. <http://www.williamcalvin.com/bk2/bk2ch12.htm>.