READING CHALLENGE: “Overcoming Adversity: Resetting Goals” by Nelson J. Fowlkes
Adversity may be more than a mere misfortune or situation that works against you. It may be a series of barriers and obstacles that keep you from achieving your goals and dreams. Adversity comes in many forms: social injustice, discrimination, emotional distress, lack of financial resources, or personal tragedy.
As humans, we face challenges and obstacles that adversely affect our goals and dreams. These unwelcome experiences can lead to pain, self-pity, hopelessness, and depression. Nevertheless, we should not let our misfortunes and troubles define us.
On the author’s life journey, he experienced a series of setbacks, roadblocks, misfortunes, and obstacles that made it difficult and challenging to reach his goals and dreams. He had a fractured early childhood, and his teenage years were spent with different family members.
His family was poor, with very few resources. His parents were divorced, and no one in his family had a college education. He moved frequently during his early years. As a toddler, he lived with his biological family in Tennessee, and in early childhood (birth 4) with surrogate parents in Georgia. After high school graduation, he lived with an uncle in Cleveland, Ohio.
He didn’t have financial resources or a well-thought-out action plan on how to pursue his goals. However, he pressed forward with trust and faith in God, courage, self-confidence, and perseverance, hoping that his vision of getting an education and creating a better life for himself would be realized.
“Overcoming Adversity: Resetting Goals” by Nelson J. Fowlkes is an interesting, intriguing, and inspiring story of hope, courage, and determination. The book emphasizes the spirit of tenacity.
As an African American in the United States, Fowlkes endured generational poverty and economic disadvantages that were frustrating and painful. He remained focused on his goals and alleviated the pain through faith, self-reliance, and perseverance.
Take a stroll with Fowlkes and observe the insightful and dynamic strategies he employed to achieve his goals and dreams despite rejections and ever-changing setbacks and barriers.
The reader will observe his astonishing and remarkable rise from a splintered childhood and poverty to faithfully serving twenty years in the United States Army and achieving the grade of Lt. Colonel. He also earned two postgraduate degrees and two professional certificates.
How will you achieve your goals and dreams when experiencing setbacks and rejections?