Self-Compassion: Perseverance
Apr 17, 2025
By: Marcus Young
“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” - Martin Luther King Jr
During my senior year of high school, I was hit with devastating news: I was on the “off grad” list. It felt like my world was crashing down. Due to the pandemic, I had been in online learning since the middle of my junior year and it had completely derailed me. With younger siblings running around at home and what felt like constant distractions, it was nearly impossible to focus. But I refused to give up. I asked for help to get back on track, reaching out to all my teachers. Every day I diligently began to make up missed assignments until all the work was finally complete. And I began to give myself a break by acknowledging how difficult learning during Covid had been for me and so many. My determination and self-compassion paid off—I made it off the list just in time to graduate with my class. My diploma now represented a symbol of my resilience.
College didn’t come easy. Moving to a new city and adjusting to the academic pressure left me overwhelmed—I withdrew from most of my classes and lost my financial aid at the end of my freshman year. It felt like I had let everyone down. But I wasn’t ready to give up. I appealed the scholarship decision, outlining the changes I was committed to making. When the appeal was granted, it became the wake-up call I needed. I rebuilt my life with support from advisors, mentors, therapists, and a spiritual community. With time and persistence, I pulled myself out of academic probation and eventually became a straight A student.
Perseverance is about giving yourself permission to fail and get back up.
Now, here I am three weeks away from my college graduation. I can look back on the last 4 years and be proud of not only my academic achievements but the growth I have seen in myself because of everything it took to get here. I’ve learned that perseverance isn’t just about working hard—it’s about taking what you need for yourself to keep moving forward even when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
What obstacles are you currently facing?
