Overcoming challenges and reaching the stars

I see myself as mature yet still young. Throughout my youth, particularly over the last decade, I've encountered several challenging times where my mental strength was my primary asset in overcoming them. While staying only with these experiences could profoundly change my outlook on life and how you and others perceive me, I choose to focus here on the aspects that sustained my physical and mental well-being during those moments.

From enduring injuries during my years of dancing, which rendered me temporarily unable to train or walk, to navigating a post-university crisis and returning to Bulgaria, where I currently reside, I've faced various trials. Among them, the absence of a strong social circle here which turns out to stand as crucial for maintaining motivation.

First and foremost, I've been both nurtured and self-raised. I cultivated a strong sense of independence from my young age. Whether it was completing homework, attending classes, or later navingating my path to my studies and finding accomodation in Germany for my studies, I tackled all tasks and later bigger ones on my own. This self-reliance has been instrumental in fostering my confidence. Trusting in myself has been vital in navigating challenging decisions or facing life's hurdles without surrendering to despair. I've learned that many of the choices I've made have ultimately led to positive outcomes. This belief in myself and the beautiful turnarounds of events all over the world frees me, gives me the push to embrace life, and appreciate life and gives me the pull to go further.

Education has also played a significant role in shaping my life. It has helped me discern between right and wrong, as well as to identify the groups of people I would like to be among. Although the last was not always possible, especially in Germany, where my imperfect German or lack of professional experience has kept me out of the most smartest among my university colleagues. Also the fact that I would not have enough money, sometimes even for food, would make my choices to be among people like me, more obvious. Despite occasional challenges I've always sought to recognize potential and be myself and open to embracing diversity. I have experienced situations where people are good at heart once they see your potential but are not open enough to welcome an odd one fully because of prejudices.

My years in Germany were a series of challenges, but they were challenges I eagerly embraced. Despite the competitive environment, I remained steadfast in my pursuit of knowledge. I would never think about the option to give up, surrender or what would happen if I do not succeed. I knew that this would open me doors afterwards and I was madly passionate about being at every lecture and practical course. I would be every single free minute with my books, I would open my eyes and take the notes from last night, I would rush to catch the train and bus and I would go to the gym every second I had a free time to do so. Becoming part of a community of ambitious, curious and creative people striving for a better future was both liberating and it teaches to discover what makes you different, what makes you unique.

However, upon completing my studies, uncertainty loomed large. The lack of guidance regarding my career path left me adrift. Unsure of my next steps, I found solace in my passions for arts and sports. Moving to Berlin without a clear path ahead was daunting, but it also provided for me an opportunity for personal growth and mostly the choice to experience something new, a persuiot of larger endeavours and freedom. However, I was unable to see clearly, see forward, I lost purpose, I dropped out of my master programs, lost my lovers. Still young enough that I thought life would gift me the next step of life for free. This subsequent period when I finished what I so much desired, mostly compounded by the onset of the pandemic in early 2021, was a time of profound uncertainty and introspection, but not always a possible one. Social apps were not the best back then simply because they used to create the wrong sense of reality, not even giving the tools to fsciliate growth and be curious, but the only place where you could actually connect socially during the strict pandemic rules in Germany.

Returning to Bulgaria, my homeland, I felt disconnected and disheartened by the lack of mostly cultural and economic development. Yet, it was also a period of survival and self-discovery. My intuition has whispered me to start reading more books and enrolling in online educational courses, random topics, I am interested in learning about. I gradually regained my footing and rediscovered my sense of purpose. This was it, I found purpose and faith in myself again and in my desires, imagination of a greater future for me and the people around me. This faith was the leading force every single morning.

Support from loved ones, including my brother and a psychologist, was instrumental in my journey towards restoring my sense of what I am and want. Writing, in particular, became a positivie outlet, allowing me to process my experiences and chart a path forward. Adopting a dog further gave sense of responsibility and taking care of something other than you. I remember that was the moment I started and kept writing experiences, I kept reading books, I kept going to places which were brighter or had people I could or loved to associate myself with. Every day I was consciously escaping from a place of distrust by small choices I started to make and they gave me optimistic turnaround of events. If I ever again have this months of freedom of rediscovery, I would use the time to grow life and raise a kid.

Ultimately, my unwavering faith in myself and my vision for the future propelled me forward. I have managed to turn my faith into a written plan and visions, I have turned my written plan into a physical receiving of job proposal. Transforming my aspirations into tangible goals and taking decisive action led to opportunities I had never imagined. Of course I have moments where I would turn mountains to have the career and life I have achieved here, back in Germany. Looking back, I learned that, unfortunately, there are moments when we cannot rely on ourself solely and choosing the people around us wisely to take decisions as a team is vital.

Dreams can change and be altered only to find our truest project we should work on and we need to be profoundly understanding to young people during that times of their life. Stressing on freedom of speach and of choice, knowing that we may need to provide them with the tools along their way to stay faithful and eager to learn and provide.

Hardships are inevitable part of life, other harder moments are personal disasters in the lifetime of a human being, just like a war or a political crisis is for a nation. To be able to restore, you need a ground you can step on, you need faith, you need people smart and you need proactive actions. The era of money or riches in other form that most of us are able to acquire, is something that can keep you out of any trouble and keep you moving. Remember that and always program your mind to think of opportunities and every day as a new beginning, knowing that the way we live today determines our tomorrow. Today, the sense of knowing that we have so much to give is what gives us the needed power and will.