I think my greatest obstacle to self improvement is my stubbornness and hesitancy to accept change. Whenever I reach a certain level of comfort, I tend to back down from situations that scare me because I'll likely feel inadequate. For example, even when coming to UCLA, I reacted very adversely to change; I continuously sought the stability and closeness of my high school friend group, and while I tried my best making new friends, the dynamics were never the same as back home. Despite that, I do think that my stubbornness has served me well in that Iām able to stand up for and hold true to my values, regardless of peer pressure. However, itās also important for me to overcome this obstacle by remaining open-minded and embracing change, because itās all a part of self-growth and development. The lessons I learn, the places I go, and the people I meetāall of which entail a huge amount of changeāwill shape who I become and allow me to become a better version of myself.Ā One of my favorite quotes of all time isĀ āThere are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behindā (C.S. Lewis), so I just have to remember that all the changes Iām experiencing right now will benefit me in the future.
