Many people, at some point in their life, encounter certain experiences which make them reconsider their mindset and embrace a new way of thinking. In my case, the notable event which enabled me to start viewing myself and others differently was watching a documentary about Esther Vergeer, a paralympic athlete. Esther Vergeer is a tennis player who suffered a major hemorrhage and stroke during her childhood, which led to her legs being paralyzed. Nevertheless, Esther did not give up on her life and instead committed to achieving her goals in the sphere of tennis and eventually won 48 Grand Slam tournaments.
The life of Esther and her stories made me understand that every single person had the capacity to overcome the most difficult conditions if they were committed to it. As a result, I realized that I could succeed in any sphere of my choice, given that I made serious efforts to do it. Moreover, I also understood that it was important to set clear goals which would guide my work. Thus, the documentary about Esther Vergeer sparked a period of personal growth in my life during which I extensively studied and began to treat my hobbies more seriously. Essentially, the experience of seeing another person succeeding despite all of the challenges, inspired me to follow the same path and be always committed to the activities at hand. Additionally, the documentary made me less judgmental about other people because I understood that every individual has their own struggles of which others are not aware.
The example of Esther Vergeer forever changed my perception of the abilities of people and me personally and provided me with an understanding that it was unnecessary to judge others. Specifically, I realized that any individual was capable of achieving success if they worked hard, set goals, and had a purpose. The discovery of Esther Vergeer’s story forever changed my way of thinking and made me more dedicated.