Stopped Me In My Tracks

PART 1
In the past week, I was stopped in my tracks when:
 - My friends screamed at each other for a petty reason,
 - When I began to study for the GRE and saw math that I haven't practiced since I was a sophomore in high school,
 - And when I saw the video that I posted for this blog about perseverance.

My two friends were fighting about taking food from one another. Instead of just communicating with each other, they ultimately attacked one another's character. As I sat there and attempted to be the mediator, I realized that sometimes people direct their emotions in the wrong way. As I am a culprit of this, I was stopped in my tracks because I had the realization that we must think before we act.

On Wednesday, I sat down at my desk and opened my GRE book. As I began to read, I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated. Not only was it information that I haven't practiced in five years, but I found that the GRE is more of a game than a test. I must figure out the tricks in order to do well. I was taken back because this exam is held highly for my entry into graduate school. I don't feel that it is a true measure of my intelligence, and I am frankly agitated with the fact that, in order to continue on this path I've chosen for myself, I must succumb to the antics of the GRE.

When I saw that video about a man with no limbs, I began to cry. I don't wish that struggle on anyone, and this poor man couldn't even feed himself. After I watched this video, I began to see the man's physical setback as a metaphor for all of our mental setbacks. As he stated, life will always bring you down. Our strength is determined by whether or not we get back up.

PART 2
The common link between all three notations is that they all seem to attest to my character. I try to think of myself as a logical person, and when my friends were fighting, it seems to me that I was acting that way. Not only is it not rational to attack someone else as a person because of food, but it's also simply not nice. Another testament to my character is my GRE practice. I tend to be a perfectionist, and when I have trouble understanding something, I get easily frustrated. It makes it even more difficult when I don't agree with something. Lastly, the video showed me that perseverance is the key to success. If we can't persevere, we won't be able to get anything accomplished. The connection between all three is that, although I tend to be a perfectionist that demands a logical explanation for everything, if I persevere, I will be able to overcome my tedious ways and ultimately find more enjoyment in the process of learning.