Describe an obstacle that you have faced in your professional or your academic life. How did you overcome it and how did it foster your development

As so often happens, events that initially appear vexing or inconvenient often have far reaching ramifications on a person’s social and emotional development. One such incident occurred in my early childhood that impacted me greatly and altered my perspective on life.
I was an extremely shy and introverted boy during my junior and middle school years. However, sometime in the 5th standard, I was instructed to choose an appropriate speech as an elocution assignment and deliver it in front of my classmates.
It was indisputable that I was incredibly nervous, so it came as little surprise to me that I flubbed my lines and performed abysmally. As expected, I got a withering appraisal from Mrs. Fernandez, my English teacher. My final performance left her feeling dispirited and dejected as an English lecturer.
Back home, my father, the, “in-house motivation machine”, assuaged my feelings and dissected my performance. He made it abundantly that if I didn’t muster the requisite confidence to conquer my inner demons at this stage in life, my professional career would be threatened. My father had overcome a debilitating stammer in his youth, due to a complicated physiological condition, so eloquence was a talent that he prized. He had invested his unrequited ambitions in me and wanted me to exploit my abilities to the fullest.
As my father’s words thundered through my mind, I resolved to radically alter my mindset. A year later, in the 6th grade, I registered for an intramural elocution competition – one of the most prestigious extra-curricular events in the academic year. Since the presiding judges would include principals from other schools, all the participants were eager to put forth their best performance.
During the first practise session, I revealed the piece that I wanted to recite to Mrs. Fernandez. She looked baffled. The passage in question was a soliloquy from Julius Caesar (Act 3, Scene 2). The play was included in the 9th grade English Literature curriculum and I was attempting to master it without truly understanding the historical or emotional context.
Oddly enough, I was secretly aware that choosing such an emotionally charged piece had given me the necessary “failure cushion” in case I erred. I was also aware that I had to conquer my stage fears. Mustering my courage, I strode onstage and without a pause launched into Mark Antony’s memorable eulogy to Caesar. After hitting all the highs and lows of his oratory, I concluded the speech on a rousing note. For a few seconds there was palpable silence followed by raucous cheers and thunderous applause.
This was a watershed event because it imbued me with the necessary confidence to speak publically in lively debate with others. I was no longer bothered by niggling issues such as nervousness and took part enthusiastically in group discussions and seminars. It does seem to be an appropriate coda to my transition from awkward teenager to a self-assured adult.