Why Stubbornness Is My Survival Mechanism
It comes from feeling like I can’t make my own decisions, but sometimes, it holds me back
I admit when I am wrong and am unsure and uncertain in most contexts. I will express that uncertainty in class, and in a lot of spaces where I need to sell myself and “put on a show,” I often fail to rise to the moment, including in some interviews. I am a person juggling a special education teacher in Baltimore during the day and a law student at night. In these spheres, I am always open to feedback on how to improve and do better.
But when I am convinced of my way and the right way to do things, I cannot be deterred and am unreasonably stubborn. Sometimes, I would rather fail and drive myself into the ground, my way, instead of listening to reason. As a marathon runner, my stubbornness will rear its head in my training methods and plans, but it also manifests in other parts of my daily life.
For the past several years, whenever I commute to law school, I often think I know better than the GPS, so I take another route that I think is a hidden gem or secret. I know it is not rational to think I always know better because navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze account for road closures, car accidents, and traffic, but yes, at the moment, I think I know better. It usually is…
