Facing adversity changes people, it creates new beginnings or possible barriers for

them. As humans, it is natural for us to dislike the feeling of uneasiness when

confronted with the unknown. I have chosen to explore the theme; “Individual who
face adversity creates strength”. This theme is portrayed in the novels: It Ends With
Us, by Colleen Hoover, Hope in a Ballet Shoe, by Elaine DePrince and Michaela
DePrince, Reminders of Him, by Colleen Hoover and also in the film, Soul Surfer,
directed by Sean McNamara. These different stories enable us to understand that
adversity can allow an individual to step into something positive, discover the person
they are meant to be, and most importantly, recognise that we do require the support
of others during challenging moments.

The novel, ‘It Ends with Us’, by Colleen Hoover, illustrates the idea that “an
individual who faces adversity creates strength”. Domestic abuse has been occurring
under Lily Bloom’s roof since childhood, and Lily is determined not to follow in her
mother’s footsteps. However, midway through the text, Lily makes the same mistake
as her mother and ends up in an abusive relationship. She feels alone, afraid, and in
need of support after finding out she got pregnant through rape and feared the
consequences of seeking help. However, with the support of her mother, she learns
to build up courage for the next steps. Lily’s mum said to her: “the last thing you
want to do is lose sight of your limit... We all have a limit. What we are willing
to put up with before we break." This is an important message for Lily as her
mother speaks of her experience. It emphasises that the cycle can occur because
sometimes it seems easier to keep running in the same familiar circles rather than
face the fear of jumping and the possibility of succeeding. Colleen Hoover wants us
to understand that the strength created within Lily was built by the support of her
loved ones, as “it takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt
a familiar pattern.” She is trying to persuade us that seeking guidance from
someone who has gone through a similar experience (such as her mother) can help
someone overcome their pain and make them realise they are not alone in this
world.