Have you ever wondered what makes you you? I have caught that thought linger in my mind more than once and I always come up with the same answer. Every experience I’ve had, from the moment I was born to this very second, has slowly molded me into who I am today. The mistakes I’ve made and the lessons I’ve learned are the foundation of my identity. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross once said, “Learning lessons is a little like reaching maturity. You’re not suddenly more happy, wealthy, or powerful, but you understand the world around you better and are at peace with yourself.” So, how do I learn? Whether it is through observation, from lessons passed down, from making mistakes, or from simply experiencing life, I am continuously learning something and it’s added like a new layer to make me who I am.

  I primarily learn through my mistakes. When I first moved to the United States, I was scared to speak English. My vocabulary was extremely limited, and my accent was strong, so I chose to remain silent. But as time passed, I grew tired of that silence. I wanted to express myself, but fear held me back. That is why I decided to start practicing every day so I could get better. Before starting high school, I enrolled in an online English class, which helped with my grammar and understanding. However, I realized that to truly improve my speaking skills, I needed to have conversations with native speakers. So, I took a job as a waitress, forcing myself to engage with customers. Shortly after, I started high school and made some friends who also helped me. I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but instead of letting them discourage me, I learned to move on and correct them. I also have learned that mistakes aren’t mistakes, they are simply steppingstones to success, a principle I apply to every aspect of my life. Whether if it is picking up a new hobby or starting a job, I remind myself that perfection isn’t necessary right away. By embracing my mistakes and refusing to give up, I improve a little more every day.

  Another important way I learn is by listening to my parents. As Al Kingsley once stated, “A smart person learns from his mistakes, but a truly wise person learns from the mistakes of others. The first time I heard a variation of this quote was from my mom when I was around nine years old. At that time, I didn’t really understand the meaning behind her stories. I thought she was simply sharing her past with me, but as I grew older, I realized she was sharing her life experiences to help me avoid similar mistakes. For example, my mom once fell victim to peer pressure in high school and tried cigarettes. Her friends made her believe it would make her look cool and help her lose weight. The addiction that followed lasted for years. From her story, I learned a very important lesson: to resist peer pressure and trust my gut. If I don’t want to do something, I shouldn’t feel pressured to do it. This lesson has proven useful, especially recently when friends encouraged me to try smoking weed simply because it was trendy. I stood my ground and refused.

  Last but not least, I’ve learned a valuable lesson through hardship. Last October, I tore my ACL in a car accident. That led to over five months of recovery time during my senior year. The physical pain was one challenge, but the mental toll was even greater. In the first month post-accident, I isolated myself, staying in my room and only leaving for physical therapy. I think I slipped into a mild depression, and while my mom tried to support me, I shut everyone out until I could no longer bear it. Finally, I decided to open up to her about my feelings. That conversation was liberating. My mom encouraged me to see a therapist, and after a few sessions, I began to feel lighter. I started returning to my life and refused to let my injury define me. Through this experience, I learned that life is filled with hardships and a variety of emotions. Bottling them up isn’t healthy, and it’s important to have someone trustworthy to confide in. Since then, I’ve worked on expressing my feelings more openly.

In conclusion, I want to say that different life experiences significantly shaped my character. Every lesson I’ve learned, whether directly or indirectly, has contributed to the person I am today. I’ve become the Elena who doesn’t shy away from challenges. The Elena stands firm against peer pressure, and who openly communicates her feelings. Most importantly, I am have become the Elena who never gives up. I am grateful for all my experiences, whether good or bad.  All these lessons, just like layers create an onion, that same way they helped built me as a person. And I love the person who I have become.