Famous Personalities and Adversity

Adversity comes to us in many forms and packaging; in the form of
poverty, bankruptcy or threat to oneself. I believe most of us live in
an enclosed and secure bubble for most of our lives, and that bubble
can only be penetrated by the sharp barb of hardship.  When confronted
by misfortune, one is forced to perceive and handle situations in a
different way, widening one’s ability to survive in different
environments. It is fairly obvious how this can lead to develop a
stronger resilience and assist in handling other adversities as they
may come.
I take the example of a famous television personality Oprah Winfrey
who born out of wedlock and was subject to a great many hardships in
her life as she grew up; often having to shift between states and
parents and living in poverty. Instead of having the effect of
crushing her, she rebelled through her misfortune and by studying hard
she made a position for herself as a news anchor on television,
finally earning her way into her own show.
Creative geniuses are often born out of adversity. Maya  Angelou,
famous autobiographer and poet, in her book ‘I know why the caged bird
sings’ is based on the first 17 years of her life, during which she
was abused, both sexually and emotionally and as a result of which
remained almost mute for nearly 5 years. Angelou spread her story to
the world, and in doing so she became the author of many acclaimed
novels as well as Northern Coordinator of Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Her adversity made her
powerful and allowed her to help many more people with the strength
she gained from it.
In light of the above evidence, I think it safe to assume that there
is a great deal of potential to be gained from learning from ones
adversities. Not only does it show true prowess in the face of
hardship, but also a tenacious character refusing to let anything drag
you down.