Responding to Adversity

A Los Angeles teenager was one of the most unlikely people to be selected to attend Harvard University let alone be awarded a full scholarship. A front page article in the Los Angeles Times describes Khadijah Williams journey to Harvard University.

Donald Trump once made the following statement: The # 1 key to being a successful business person is how you respond to adversity.

If that statement is correct, then she has great success ahead of her. As long as she can remember Khadijah has floated from shelters to motels to armories. In 12 years time she attended 12 schools while living out of garbage bags among pimps and drug dealers.

When shelters closed or money ran out she and her mother would pack what little they had and would board buses to find housing elsewhere. Khadijah had to learn how to hunt for her next meal, find the nearest bus route and determine what was a secure place to sleep.

When she was in her junior year of high school, she had to commute by buses from an Orange County armory to school in Los Angeles. She awoke at 4:00 a.m. and returned at 11:00 p.m. Yet in spite of all the challenges she was able to keep her grade point average just below 4.0.

Her secret? She pushed herself in each schools gifted student program. She was diligent in her studies plus she read four to five books a month. In addition she reached out for assistance to organizations and mentors.

There is no promise that life is going to be absent of adversity and challenges. However our response to these negative seasons will determine whether we will fade off into the memories of a distant past or continue to live a life of meaning and impact.

Who is mentoring or coaching you? Mentoring and coaching will help take you to higher places and is a God send when adversity comes knocking.