Life resembles a game—one where no one begins at the top of the leaderboard, though some are placed closer or further than others for various reasons. We’re thrown into chaos, handed a controller we barely understand, and expected to figure things out along the way. The most challenging levels—the ones that leave us feeling utterly defeated—are the moments where true growth occurs. Every failure is an invitation to try again, equipped with the knowledge and resilience earned through hardship.

To be 'pancaked' by life is, paradoxically, a gift. It’s in those moments of total collapse that we’re given the opportunity to rebuild ourselves—not as naive optimists, but as resilient individuals who have confronted failure and are driven to rise again. Today, I’m not standing triumphantly at the mountain’s peak. Instead, I’m squatting under the weight of my goals. It’s uncomfortable, it burns, and it’s far from glamorous. But it’s exhilarating, too. There’s a quiet, almost silent power in embracing this stage of life—a phase where your dreams press down heavily, but you’re building the strength to support them.