Select Page

2024 Driver Education Round 3 – How I Overcame an Obstacle that Crushed me for Years

Name: Jonathan R Sidky
From: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Votes: 0

How I Overcame an Obstacle that Crushed me for Years

For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with a lisp. I was in 4th grade when I really began to notice it. Others constantly had a hard time understanding what I was saying, and it drove me crazy. Fear of being unable to articulate my thoughts began to influence my behavior; I stopped raising my hand in class and withdrew from social situations. I had never been a shy child, but I began to be reserved and quiet in public. This change was totally contrary to who I was; I love people and interacting with my community, but I felt like my difficulty with speech was a wall separating me from this vibrant life. I struggled through this for nearly five years, always longing to be able to more fully, wholeheartedly participate in life with others without constant fear of embarrassment. Entering highschool was a breaking point- I decided to take initiative. I searched for speech therapy clinics around me that would accept 15 year old patients, which, I found, were rather uncommon. Most people with speech impediments take part in therapy at a very young age, when it is much easier to rewire the tongue. I had tried therapy when I was younger as well but it had proved to be ineffective. Eventually, I came across a clinic that would accept me, and so my journey began, attending therapy weekly and doing speech exercises daily. Attending speech therapy coupled with my already busy schedule as a highschool athlete taking challenging classes led to a rather stressful weekly schedule, but I persevered on. I knew what I was working for and was not to be deterred. After nearly a year of weekly appointments, the results were astounding. I was speaking clearer than ever before and it filled me with confidence and joy. Not only did it feel incredible to finally overcome an obstacle that had been taunting me for years, but it was also so empowering to prove to myself that if I put my mind to something, and truly sought to reach a goal, I could do anything. It’s now been nearly two years since ‘graduating’ from speech therapy, and I continue to be so grateful to younger Jonathan for never giving up. I have regained confidence in my speech, and am no longer insecure to speak up in front of a group. I can also now look back on the difficult years and see that these also served me well- I acquired discernment. I was once a very impulsive speaker, which often got me into trouble. I would say what was on my mind, often before I knew what it was. My former hesitancy to speak taught me to truly think about my words, and to consider their impact before speaking rather than after. This did not only impact my speech but all aspects of my life. I’ve noticed that when I’m driving, writing, or even playing sports, I’m far more calculated and thoughtful in my actions. I remember when I was in 3rd grade I got in big trouble for saying something foolish to a classmate. At the time I couldn’t even comprehend what I had said wrong, that’s how often I spoke unconsciously. Often I think about what my life would look like now had I continued down that path. It may have been a slap on the wrist in 3rd grade, but such impulsivity could’ve fully derailed my future academic career. For that reason I thank God every day for my tribulations, because I have seen firsthand how our hardships make us stronger. This mentality of mine translates over to my academics as well. I never shy away from a challenge and refuse to let the hard times put me down. I welcome challenges as opportunities to grow and prosper. Even today I still occasionally slip up in my speech, and it always gives me a wave of gratitude, a moment for me to reflect on the fact that these rare mistakes were once simply how I spoke. Knowing that I was able to work tirelessly to improve an aspect of who I am has also motivated me to do much more. I’ve started to immerse myself in weightlifting, studying, and writing, all things that I had once dismissed as ‘too much work’. Through all of this I found the true beauty of struggles. Simply, without tribulations, stress, obstacles, and roadblocks, where would we as humans grow in virtue? My journey, though difficult, has taught me resilience, faith, perseverance, and discretion, and has helped me grow into the man I am today.