Words are the fundamental building blocks of communication and when deployed by the most skilled orators, have the power to unite nations. However, in the summer of 2012, I found myself struggling to communicate in the most basic manner. Dealing with and overcoming my stutter is the most significant challenge I have encountered thus far and has shaped the way I deal with difficulties.

Throughout middle school, my stutter made me an easy target for bullies. Regardless of the topic, most conversations with bullies concluded with me being challenged to pronounce the word “tomato”. The situation became more severe when I moved to boarding school and could not escape my tormentors at the end of the school day. I felt helpless and isolated and would spend hours sitting on the school parapet talking to myself. After months of feeling sorry for myself and encouragement from my parents, I decided to take initiative and do something about my speech impediment. I started attending speech therapy, which was a slow and tough process that took hours of practice every day. There were times when I wanted to give up, but my motivation to become a confident communicator drove me to finish

My ordeal taught me the importance of facing my challenges head-on and taking a proactive approach to difficulties in life. Challenges do not shake me the way that they used to. After overcoming my stutter, I even signed up for my high school’s debate team and led the team to victory in numerous state-wide debates, a feat I could not imagine doing a couple years prior. Although my stutter tormented me during my adolescent years, I am grateful for what it taught me about my own willpower and stamina to come out strong on the other side of obstacles I may face in the future.