Introduction
In a world that often equates vulnerability with weakness, embracing your true self can be a daunting journey. Yet, it is through acknowledging and understanding our vulnerabilities that we can transform them into strengths. This article explores the personal journey of recognizing vulnerability, the lessons learned, and how turning perceived weaknesses into strengths can lead to empowerment and self-growth.
Recognizing Vulnerability
From an early age, my mom would always tell me, “My girl, you have a lot of concern and kindness towards people, which is cool and passionate. But we live in a world that is far from perfect. When people look at you and know that you care so much for the world, they will use that and manipulate you, having you run errands that are just not important.”
At the time, I didn’t know whether it was true until I reached high school.
The High School Experience
In high school, I excelled academically. This made me a valuable resource for my peers, who often sought my help with subjects like math and chemistry. At first, I was overwhelmed but flattered, believing they were my friends. However, an incident at a school event opened my eyes.
- Event Incident: I didn’t dress well for a school event and felt out of place. My so-called friends didn’t want to be seen with me as they were busy socializing and finding boys.
- Realization: This incident made me realize that these friends were only interested in me when I was useful to them. They would disappear when I needed support.
College: Turning the Tide
This pattern continued in college, but I decided to change my approach. I sat myself down, acknowledged my vulnerability, and chose to use it as my strength.
- Academic Excellence: I continued to excel in my studies.
- Transactional Relationships: I started viewing my academic assistance as a service. Instead of seeing my peers as friends, I saw them as customers.
- Charging for Tutoring: I began charging for tutoring sessions. For every hour of help, there was a fee.
This shift in perspective empowered me. I no longer felt used or undervalued. Instead, I felt good about turning my skills into a source of income and self-worth.
Conclusion
The journey of embracing vulnerability is unique for each individual. It involves recognizing how others might exploit our weaknesses and finding ways to turn those vulnerabilities into strengths. For me, this meant transforming my academic prowess into a service that garnered respect and provided financial rewards.
The moral of this story is clear: we all have vulnerabilities, especially as women, and people will try to exploit them. However, by sharing our stories and supporting one another, we can learn to make our vulnerabilities our strengths. Let’s help each other find empowerment in our true selves.
