Mental Strength at Dalat

By Luke Lindsay

Students at Dalat are developing a strong mental toughness that will be a crucial factor in their future.

            Mental toughness is the ability to cope with or handle pressure or stress. It is the ability to persist when times are tough; a refusal to quit when all others give in. There's no better gift you can give yourself, than to develop a robust undefeatable mind. A strong mind leads to a strong life, a life that will throw you struggles and then are easily overcome. The everyday mental struggle students face at Dalat can be overwhelming. However, we don't only develop mental strength in the classroom but the gym as well. Every day there are students in the weight room training. People go to the gym for what? A better physique? To perform better in a sport? Or to simply get stronger? It doesn't matter why you go to the gym, but if you want results, hard work and dedication is required.

You cannot grow without struggle and challenging yourself. I see these qualities in students every day, in the gym, and in the classroom. Strength and courage are qualities made from our pain and struggles. Many people take many difficult classes at Dalat, but despite the immense challenges, they overcome those hurdles.

Jong Min Park (12) states, "I find that with the multitude of things going on in my life - such as taking rigorous AP classes, applying to college, and pursuing my own goals in the weight room - maintaining mental toughness is a key component of seeing success in these areas. It's one thing to be able to endure through the struggles of achieving these goals, but it's another thing to continue challenging yourself to achieve more".

Like Jong Min said, developing mental toughness is key to being able to excel in life. Those who lack mental toughness will have difficulty facing the struggles of the future and possibly fall victim to them. Therefore, push through your pain and fight now, for it will transform you into the person you need to be later.