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Dylan​ ​Rivera

Ms.​ ​Woelke

AP​ ​English

25​ ​October​ ​2017

The​ ​Fruit​ ​of​ ​Adversity

Imagine​ ​how​ ​different​ ​the​ ​world​ ​be​ ​if​ ​that​ ​one​ ​person,​ ​once​ ​presented​ ​with​ ​adversity​ ​in

front​ ​of​ ​them,​ ​gave​ ​up.​ ​Abraham​ ​Lincoln​ ​ceded​ ​to​ ​the​ ​demands​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Confederacy,​ ​the​ ​inventor

of​ ​the​ ​wheel​ ​was​ ​disheartened​ ​when​ ​his​ ​wheel​ ​collapsed​ ​going​ ​up​ ​a​ ​steep​ ​hill,​ ​and​ ​Oprah​ ​denied

herself​ ​her​ ​dreams​ ​of​ ​success​ ​due​ ​to​ ​her​ ​traumatic​ ​childhood.​ ​The​ ​world​ ​would​ ​be​ ​spinning

differently​ ​today​ ​if​ ​these​ ​events​ ​actually​ ​took​ ​place​ ​-​ ​yet,​ ​these​ ​fellow​ ​people​ ​found​ ​strength​ ​in

their​ ​struggles​ ​and​ ​were​ ​able​ ​to​ ​overcome​ ​them​ ​and​ ​seek​ ​their​ ​greatness.​ ​The​ ​Roman​ ​poet

Horace​ ​stated​ ​this​ ​thesis​ ​exactly​ ​in​ ​his​ ​well​ ​known​ ​quote​ ​on​ ​adversity.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​the​ ​complex​ ​nature​ ​of

adversity​ ​itself​ ​that​ ​precisely​ ​demonstrates​ ​how​ ​“misfortune”​ ​does​ ​indeed​ ​bring​ ​out​ ​the​ ​best​ ​in

people.

The​ ​redefinition​ ​of​ ​one’s​ ​character​ ​that​ ​arises​ ​from​ ​adversity​ ​promotes​ ​the​ ​reality​ ​of​ ​the

ability​ ​to​ ​find​ ​strength​ ​in​ ​difficulties.​ ​In​ ​Nancy​ ​Mairs’s​ ​essay​ ​“On​ ​Being​ ​a​ ​Cripple”,​ ​Mairs

literally​ ​defines​ ​for​ ​herself​ ​what​ ​being​ ​a​ ​cripple​ ​really​ ​is​ ​in​ ​an​ ​effort​ ​to​ ​separate​ ​herself​ ​from​ ​the

notion​ ​that​ ​she​ ​is​ ​weak​ ​due​ ​to​ ​having​ ​multiple​ ​sclerosis.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​not​ ​handicapped,​ ​which​ ​implies​ ​the

inherent​ ​“disadvantage”​ ​presented​ ​in​ ​oneself;​ ​it​ ​is​ ​not​ ​disabled,​ ​which​ ​implies​ ​“incapacity”​ ​-​ ​her

use​ ​of​ ​the​ ​word​ ​“cripple”​ ​is​ ​what​ ​defines​ ​her​ ​reality​ ​and​ ​most​ ​importantly,​ ​herself.​ ​This​ ​word

gives​ ​her​ ​confidence​ ​in​ ​her​ ​existence​ ​and​ ​defines​ ​the​ ​strong​ ​willed​ ​person​ ​she​ ​is​ ​and​ ​points​ ​to
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this​ ​fruit​ ​of​ ​adversity​ ​that​ ​everyone​ ​can​ ​take​ ​advantage​ ​of.​ ​One’s​ ​adversity​ ​is​ ​what​ ​gives

someone​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​set​ ​themselves​ ​apart​ ​from​ ​the​ ​crowd​ ​and​ ​let​ ​the​ ​world​ ​know​ ​that​ ​they​ ​can

rise​ ​above​ ​obstacles​ ​ahead​ ​and​ ​even​ ​inspire​ ​them​ ​to​ ​do​ ​better.​ ​Aime​ ​Mullins’s​ ​TED​ ​talk​ ​further

builds​ ​on​ ​this​ ​concept,​ ​as​ ​she​ ​discusses​ ​the​ ​inappropriate​ ​diction​ ​of​ ​words​ ​to​ ​define​ ​her​ ​physical

limitations​ ​-​ ​disabled,​ ​most​ ​notably.​ ​Mullins​ ​goes​ ​on​ ​to​ ​declare​ ​that​ ​she​ ​consciously​ ​overcomes

society’s​ ​expectation​ ​of​ ​a​ ​“disabled”​ ​person​ ​and​ ​uses​ ​this​ ​as​ ​an​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​define​ ​herself:​ ​one

who​ ​not​ ​solely​ ​denies​ ​her​ ​limitations,​ ​but​ ​rather,​ ​makes​ ​it​ ​an​ ​immanent​ ​part​ ​of​ ​herself​ ​and​ ​gives

her​ ​the​ ​right​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​living​ ​her​ ​life.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​this​ ​liberty​ ​that​ ​arose​ ​from​ ​her​ ​“adversity”​ ​which

gave​ ​her​ ​the​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​redefine​ ​herself​ ​in​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​way​ ​and​ ​see​ ​her​ ​world​ ​from​ ​a​ ​more

confident​ ​and​ ​powerful​ ​perspective,​ ​something​ ​all​ ​of​ ​us​ ​can​ ​learn​ ​from​ ​and​ ​do​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​The

extent​ ​of​ ​this​ ​truth​ ​is​ ​infinite​ ​and​ ​applies​ ​to​ ​everyone​ ​who​ ​struggles​ ​-​ ​famously​ ​Abraham​ ​Lincoln

as​ ​well,​ ​who​ ​had​ ​to​ ​put​ ​up​ ​with​ ​bouts​ ​of​ ​sudden​ ​depression​ ​throughout​ ​his​ ​life.​ ​Many​ ​times

Lincoln​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​give​ ​up,​ ​even​ ​kill​ ​himself.​ ​Yet​ ​he​ ​had​ ​an​ ​innate​ ​drive​ ​to​ ​do​ ​something​ ​in​ ​this

world​ ​-​ ​and​ ​this​ ​desire​ ​was​ ​fueled​ ​by​ ​his​ ​depression​ ​which​ ​he​ ​would​ ​not​ ​let​ ​define​ ​him.​ ​This

personal​ ​realization​ ​is​ ​very​ ​empowering​ ​to​ ​him​ ​and​ ​represents​ ​a​ ​possibility​ ​shared​ ​by​ ​humanity​ ​-

the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​take​ ​on​ ​adversity​ ​with​ ​grace​ ​and​ ​seize​ ​it​ ​as​ ​a​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​redefine​ ​oneself​ ​in​ ​a​ ​much

more​ ​liberating​ ​way.​ ​The​ ​benefits​ ​from​ ​refining​ ​oneself​ ​from​ ​adversity​ ​are​ ​endless.

On​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand,​ ​some​ ​people​ ​may​ ​say​ ​that​ ​adversity​ ​can​ ​bring​ ​out​ ​the​ ​world​ ​in​ ​people.

In​ ​“Serving​ ​in​ ​Florida”​ ​by​ ​Barbara​ ​Ehrenreich,​ ​Ehrenreich​ ​concludes​ ​her​ ​essay​ ​by​ ​hinting​ ​she

could’ve​ ​become​ ​a​ ​different​ ​person​ ​-​ ​for​ ​the​ ​worse​ ​-​ ​if​ ​she​ ​had​ ​continued​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​in​ ​her​ ​horrible

work​ ​conditions​ ​even​ ​longer.​ ​One​ ​can​ ​make​ ​that​ ​connection,​ ​but​ ​that​ ​is​ ​a​ ​false​ ​correlation​ ​to​ ​the

nature​ ​of​ ​adversity.​ ​As​ ​stated​ ​in​ ​Aimee​ ​Mullins’s​ ​speech,​ ​the​ ​only​ ​true​ ​disability​ ​in​ ​life​ ​is​ ​a
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crushed​ ​spirit​ ​-​ ​adversity​ ​itself​ ​is​ ​not​ ​evil;​ ​rather,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​up​ ​to​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​to​ ​take​ ​it​ ​in​ ​their​ ​hands

and​ ​maintain​ ​their​ ​life.​ ​Their​ ​character​ ​remains​ ​untouched​ ​by​ ​hardship​ ​as​ ​long​ ​as​ ​they​ ​do​ ​not

allow​ ​it​ ​to​ ​be​ ​touched.​ ​That​ ​is​ ​vital​ ​in​ ​taking​ ​on​ ​adversity​ ​and​ ​tackling​ ​it​ ​in​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​manner​ ​and

not​ ​one​ ​that​ ​gives​ ​up​ ​so​ ​easily.​ ​I​ ​can​ ​attest​ ​to​ ​this​ ​myself,​ ​as​ ​I​ ​have​ ​numerous​ ​times​ ​felt

overwhelmed​ ​by​ ​stress​ ​from​ ​difficult​ ​and​ ​plentiful​ ​schoolwork,​ ​my​ ​family,​ ​and​ ​sports.​ ​However,

I​ ​reflect​ ​on​ ​this​ ​in​ ​the​ ​moment​ ​and​ ​ask​ ​myself​ ​-​ ​do​ ​I​ ​really​ ​want​ ​to​ ​give​ ​up​ ​my​ ​righteous

conscience​ ​in​ ​a​ ​reaction​ ​to​ ​the​ ​struggles​ ​that​ ​lay​ ​before​ ​me?​ ​Oh,​ ​the​ ​agony!​ ​Yet​ ​I​ ​refuse​ ​to​ ​let

myself​ ​down​ ​just​ ​because​ ​of​ ​that​ ​and​ ​choose​ ​to​ ​rise​ ​above​ ​the​ ​struggles​ ​and​ ​improve​ ​my

situation​ ​instead.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​a​ ​question​ ​that​ ​everyone​ ​who​ ​goes​ ​through​ ​adversity​ ​will​ ​ask​ ​themselves​ ​at

one​ ​point,​ ​yet​ ​the​ ​answer​ ​relies​ ​not​ ​on​ ​the​ ​difficulty​ ​in​ ​adversity​ ​but​ ​on​ ​the​ ​strength​ ​of​ ​the

foundations​ ​constructed​ ​in​ ​oneself​ ​which​ ​should​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​endure​ ​crisis​ ​through​ ​a​ ​humble

acceptance​ ​of​ ​the​ ​reality.​ ​A​ ​true​ ​person​ ​who​ ​is​ ​genuinely​ ​strong​ ​and​ ​willing​ ​to​ ​endlessly​ ​build​ ​on

their​ ​attributes​ ​does​ ​not​ ​surrender​ ​to​ ​life’s​ ​punches​ ​along​ ​the​ ​way.​ ​As​ ​the​ ​Chinese​ ​quote​ ​goes,

real​ ​gold​ ​does​ ​not​ ​fear​ ​the​ ​test​ ​of​ ​fire.

It​ ​is​ ​imperative​ ​that​ ​we​ ​understand​ ​that​ ​resilience​ ​is​ ​in​ ​our​ ​blood​ ​as​ ​humans,​ ​and​ ​great

resilience​ ​it​ ​what​ ​reaps​ ​the​ ​magnificent​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​someone​ ​that​ ​may​ ​have​ ​been​ ​hidden​ ​without

stress.​ ​Most​ ​of​ ​us​ ​would​ ​not​ ​be​ ​where​ ​we​ ​are​ ​today​ ​if​ ​it​ ​wasn’t​ ​for​ ​our​ ​ancestors​ ​who​ ​moved​ ​out

of​ ​Africa​ ​hundreds​ ​of​ ​thousands​ ​of​ ​years​ ​ago​ ​when​ ​they​ ​were​ ​challenged​ ​by​ ​Mother​ ​Nature​ ​with

a​ ​changing​ ​agricultural​ ​landscape​ ​turning​ ​colder​ ​and​ ​drier​ ​due​ ​to​ ​climate​ ​change​ ​(not​ ​the​ ​human

caused​ ​type,​ ​however).​ ​Faced​ ​with​ ​the​ ​unknown,​ ​they​ ​took​ ​the​ ​leap​ ​forward​ ​and​ ​followed​ ​their

instincts​ ​north​ ​towards​ ​Arabia​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​seek​ ​a​ ​better​ ​life​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​try​ ​and​ ​put​ ​up​ ​with​ ​the

intenser​ ​climate​ ​conditions​ ​of​ ​Africa.​ ​The​ ​leap​ ​was​ ​a​ ​success​ ​and​ ​it​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​greatest
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achievements​ ​of​ ​humanity​ ​which​ ​has​ ​changed​ ​the​ ​world​ ​forever.​ ​This​ ​demonstration​ ​of​ ​innate

resilience​ ​of​ ​humanity​ ​which​ ​seeks​ ​a​ ​better​ ​life​ ​from​ ​the​ ​strain​ ​dealt​ ​to​ ​it​ ​is​ ​a​ ​shining​ ​example​ ​for

all​ ​of​ ​us​ ​that​ ​we​ ​have​ ​it​ ​inside​ ​ourselves​ ​to​ ​overcome​ ​adversity​ ​for​ ​our​ ​destiny​ ​is​ ​in​ ​our​ ​hands.

The​ ​structure​ ​of​ ​memories​ ​is​ ​another​ ​primate​ ​example​ ​which​ ​bespeaks​ ​the​ ​intrinsic​ ​human

capacity​ ​to​ ​overcome​ ​adversity​ ​and​ ​bring​ ​out​ ​the​ ​best​ ​within​ ​us.​ ​After​ ​long​ ​periods​ ​of​ ​stress​ ​and

seemingly​ ​endless​ ​pressure​ ​on​ ​the​ ​neurons​ ​to​ ​recognize​ ​something​ ​as​ ​a​ ​memory,​ ​new​ ​neural

pathways​ ​are​ ​created.​ ​Every​ ​time​ ​the​ ​same​ ​stress​ ​is​ ​put​ ​on​ ​the​ ​brain,​ ​the​ ​neural​ ​pathway

strengthens​ ​and​ ​deepens​ ​the​ ​presence​ ​of​ ​the​ ​memory​ ​in​ ​our​ ​consciousness.​ ​Our​ ​body​ ​clearly​ ​only

improves​ ​from​ ​adversity​ ​as​ ​we​ ​would​ ​not​ ​be​ ​who​ ​we​ ​are​ ​today​ ​without​ ​being​ ​challenged​ ​in​ ​life

ever​ ​since​ ​we​ ​were​ ​born.​ ​One​ ​should​ ​not​ ​become​ ​hopeless​ ​at​ ​the​ ​prospect​ ​of​ ​adversity​ ​but​ ​rather

use​ ​this​ ​to​ ​reclaim​ ​their​ ​human​ ​gifts​ ​and​ ​take​ ​the​ ​bull​ ​by​ ​the​ ​horns​ ​and​ ​carry​ ​on.​ ​The​ ​true​ ​root​ ​of

joy,​ ​it​ ​seems,​ ​comes​ ​from​ ​grateful​ ​acceptance​ ​of​ ​reality.​ ​Living​ ​in​ ​denial​ ​of​ ​trouble​ ​may​ ​or​ ​may

not​ ​harm​ ​someone​ ​in​ ​the​ ​long​ ​run​ ​-​ ​but​ ​it​ ​will​ ​never​ ​allow​ ​oneself​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​and​ ​take​ ​full

control​ ​of​ ​their​ ​lives.

We​ ​are​ ​all​ ​who​ ​and​ ​where​ ​we​ ​are​ ​today​ ​due​ ​to​ ​decisions​ ​made​ ​by​ ​people​ ​in​ ​the​ ​past​ ​-

leaders,​ ​ancestors,​ ​you​ ​name​ ​it​ ​-​ ​to​ ​not​ ​sit​ ​down​ ​in​ ​the​ ​face​ ​of​ ​adversity​ ​and​ ​take​ ​full​ ​advantage

of​ ​the​ ​sovereignty​ ​they​ ​have​ ​over​ ​their​ ​lives.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​thus​ ​clearly​ ​not​ ​adversity​ ​which​ ​lets​ ​us​ ​down,

but​ ​rather,​ ​a​ ​botched​ ​attempt​ ​(or​ ​lack​ ​thereof)​ ​to​ ​properly​ ​sail​ ​one's​ ​ship​ ​in​ ​the​ ​rough​ ​seas​ ​ahead.

A​ ​mediocre​ ​captain​ ​may​ ​collapse​ ​on​ ​the​ ​verge​ ​of​ ​a​ ​storm,​ ​but​ ​an​ ​awesome​ ​captain​ ​will​ ​rack​ ​up

all​ ​the​ ​courage​ ​inside​ ​himself​ ​to​ ​do​ ​things​ ​that​ ​he​ ​may​ ​not​ ​have​ ​done​ ​in​ ​normal​ ​circumstances​ ​in

order​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​on​ ​his​ ​journey.​ ​And​ ​that​ ​valiant​ ​captain​ ​is​ ​one​ ​who​ ​we​ ​should​ ​all​ ​aspire​ ​to​ ​be.