Living for YOU: How to Defy the Odds

We have often been told to pursue our passion, follow our dreams, and stay true to ourselves, yet the ultimate question is: how? 

The truth is, it’s easy to lose sight of ourselves when we’re constantly comparing our lives to others, but finding the courage to live for what truly fulfils you is how the journey we call life begins. If you are content with who you are, you will find joy in life and feel truly happy. The same holds true in reverse. By unconsciously going against yourself, you are only harming your future. I have experienced this firsthand and the struggle put me in a deep, dark hole… but I found my way out. Now I would like to help others do the same. 

“Comparison Is the Thief of Joy”

These brilliant words can actually be applied to every aspect of our lives. When we enter this world, we are unique and unlike anything else. Don’t believe me? Just ask your parents. However, sometimes we long to change our shine to be as bright as those around us. 

Going into grade 10 this year, I had already built quite the reputation for myself. I worked tirelessly day after day to become the girl who was sociable, likeable, and smart. One day, my “friend” told me about their rigorous study routine and how they would average five hours of sleep every night. Hearing this made me feel lazy. Unaccomplished. I decided to change my study routine to be as “successful” as my friend and eventually changed my extracurriculars as well. I found myself joining numerous after-school programs that didn’t reflect my true interests and ultimately left me feeling burnt out. At that point, I was not myself anymore, and I began to hate myself for it. I would cry myself to sleep every night because it felt like I was two different people between school and home.

During the day, I strove to succeed in every way I could, but at night, I questioned whether that success truly reflected who I am. I was a faulty clone of my “friend,” for I realize now that I could never have become someone I truly wasn’t. 

When I finally woke up and decided to revert to my true self, happiness returned to my life. I learned that we are all in this world to fulfil our individual purpose, and that comparing yourself to others sets you up for a life of depression and failure. 

Learning From Your Failures

As young individuals, it is inevitable that we will make mistakes. We are still learning and growing, and every long journey comes with pain. At the end of the day, what allows you to stand out from others is your ability to recover from failure. 

I recently participated in the 2025 Canada-wide HOSA competition, only for all my hard work to be “put to waste” in my eyes. In other words, I didn’t win an award and I felt that all my tireless studying was useless. After days of sadness and many tears, I realized that I couldn’t continue on like this. I was passionate about medicine and healthcare, so I should be happy with the incredible experience I took part in! 

Now, I have more motivation to succeed in the competition next year and the years after. I learned that it is crucial to change your mindset for you to prosper in society; instead of crying over “failures,” take them as learning opportunities! After all, we do learn every day of our lifetime! 

Reflection Is Key Towards Happiness 

If healthcare wasn’t truly my passion, I wouldn’t have found peace after the HOSA competition. Despite not placing, I felt proud because I realized I genuinely loved what I had learned. That clarity didn’t come instantly, but rather from reflection. That’s when I understood something important: you’re only able to push through challenges when you truly care about the path you’re on. And that’s why reflection matters—it shows you who you are. 

I used to spend hours scrolling on YouTube Shorts every night, wondering why I felt so drained. But when I started journaling, even for as little as five minutes every day, I learned more about who I am. I was able to see how productive I was every day, as well as reflect on the variance between days. With this knowledge, I developed study habits and techniques tha are right for me! And that’s why today, studying is something I consider a hobby. Reflection helped me understand what I needed to do to become the best version of myself. 

Furthermore, reflecting on the little things in life sets you up for large-scale success. By spending time understanding your day-to-day life, you will notice major trends in the upcoming weeks, months, and years.

Reflection provides a direct gateway into your future, almost like a sneak-peek. However, it is up to you to make changes where you see fit before it is too late. For example, after reflecting on my dropping grades in math this school year, I realized that I needed to stop changing my study habits to align with those of my friends. Reflection helped me become my true self once again, because it gives you the power to realign your values, rediscover your passion, and move forward with purpose. 

So, what is the key takeaway from this blog? It is to embrace the solitude in this journey we call life and live every day for yourself. Our happiness is a direct reflection of how content we are with who we truly are, and it is up to you to become the person you long to be.