Conqueror’s Trail
Inspiring community submissions that share heartfelt stories of their journeys of overcoming challenges, symbolized by “climbing the mountain.”
Lori Perez
A long time ago, I wanted to play the guitar. But when I started learning, I had a hard time. My fingers started hurting, and I had trouble switching to different chords. But I did something about it. I practiced every day for 15 minutes and started learning different techniques. In a few months, I improved drastically. I was now able to play my favorite worship songs on the guitar! This allowed me to audition for the school worship team.
Joaquin Sanchez
Every year, I watched my sister win the elocution contest. She was so good at speaking in front of everyone, and I always felt like I could never do that. But this time, I decided to think of it differently. Instead of feeling upset, I tried to see her as someone I could learn from. With her help, I practiced hard every day, putting my best into each word. By God’s grace, I won first place!
Julia Dorkin
For the longest time, the idea of performing made me anxious. But when my music teacher encouraged me to try out for the school choir, I decided to try it. My hands were shaking during the audition, and I thought everyone was judging me. But as I started singing, I focused on trying my best and kept on singing. To my surprise, everyone around me was applauding and cheering for me! Now, I’m competing for a national singing competition this year!
Lia Gonzales
I had always dreamed of being a part of the school play, but I was terrified of speaking in front of a crowd. When auditions were announced, I almost backed out, I was convinced I would just freeze on stage. However, my friends encouraged my to try, and with some more thinking and my friends encouraging me more and more, I gained the courage to audition. To my surprise, I landed a role. The first few performances were really nerve-wracking , but each time I stepped on stage, I felt more confident. By the end of the play, I not only overcame her fear of public speaking but also gained the courage to try new things outside my comfort zone.
Gabriel Santos
In my school, I was known for my strong work ethic, but as the pressures of high school increased, I started to feel overwhelmed with anxiety and stress. My grades had dropped, and I withdrew from almost all of my friends. Realizing something wasn’t right, I reached out to our school counselor, who helped me understand that mental health is just as important as physical health. With some more counseling, an open mind, and a better support system from my family and friends, I learned how to manage my stress. By the end of the year, I regained my confidence and was even able to help a friend who was struggling with similar feelings, showing that it’s okay to ask for help.
Euan Dela Cruz
I’ve always had big dreams, but procrastination is my biggest enemy. My grades were starting to suffer because I kept putting off assignments until the last minute. I then realized that if I wanted to get into a good college and have a good life, I needed to change my work habits. I broke down my assignments into smaller, manageable tasks and set specific goals for each day. I also used a timer to focus during study sessions, making sure I didn’t get distracted. With some time and consistency, I saw a drastic improvement in my grades
Alexis Fernandez
I had always been a quiet student, but when I switched schools in ninth grade, I faced bullying from a group of classmates who teased me about my clothes and accent because I came from an English-speaking school. At first, I felt isolated and wanted to just move to school again, but I decided to speak with the school counselor for some advice. With the counselor’s support, I learned how to confidently stand up for myself and assert my boundaries. I also joined a group of students who shared the same interests as I had and also spoke a bit of English who then later became my friends. Over time, the bullying stopped, and I became an advocate for kindness, speaking at an assembly about the importance of respecting others’ differences.
Mariel Ramos
I was a star on the school volleyball team but struggled to keep up with my schoolwork. As the volleyball tournament started coming near, my grades started to go down and become bad. I then realized that I needed to make a change. I met with my teachers and created a study schedule, prioritizing my homework around practices and games. I also joined a study group to help myself stay focused. By the end of the season, not only had my grades improved, but my coach also commended me for being a leader both on and off the court, showing that hard work in all areas pays off
Alex Ramirez
I was elected as one of the members of the student council. I didn’t know what to expect, as this was new for me. There were so many things I had to learn, and I was confused. I had trouble voicing my ideas during the meetings. I also had trouble balancing my time between schoolwork and student council meetings. But as time went by, I was able to manage my time and learn how to not be afraid to speak for myself.
Faith Diaz
I always had trouble with math. Every time I studied, it felt like I couldn’t get the concepts. Fortunately, I was blessed with a teacher who noticed how hard I was trying. She offered to help me with math after class every day. I was hesitant to say yes, but I went anyway. It was tiring, but I chose to attend her classes. I was slowly learning and understanding. And then finals came. I was surprised to find out that I got the highest score in the math portion!
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Share your personal journey through challenges, the struggles you faced, and how you overcame them.