My Personal Problem Essay

Sample Copy

Sociology Honors

By: Student’s Name

School Name:

J.C Hunt

December 19, 2013

Identify the problem

As an adolescence of society I face myriad problems on a daily basis. These can range from my personal life, educational, family, and even the decisions that I make. But out of all these challenges there are a few that seem to pose more of a threat. This includes my struggle with low self-esteem and the fact that I'm an over achiever. These two combinations come together to create my own internal battle.

Self-esteem is a vicious predator among young adults. I state this in such a way due to the consequences it can have on a person when experienced in severe cases. If you've ever been a victim of low self-esteem then you probably dealt with some of the repercussions. Maybe some of those effects were the idea of changing your style to please others, becoming more separated from the group, and even possibly changing who you are as an individual all together. Either way it's my belief that everyone has been a victim of low self-esteem at least once in their life.

Gather information

Some examples of this particular topic can be simple as losing a game against an opposing school or even coming in second place in a competition. When you're faced with a conflict in which another individual succeeds more so than you it can give a blow to your ego. In some cases this can be a good effect because it can drive you to do better and make you work harder to achieve your goals. In other cases it can cause you to become wounded by your own pride instead of using it as a chance for growth. But low self-esteem doesn't always come from activities such as those, sometimes it comes from the basic interaction with other members of your social group.

Bullying is now a rising problem in our country. New headlines are posted on magazines constantly, awareness alerts on the news, and even projects circulating through the school systems highlight the problem. As stated before there are severe cases of low self-esteem and this is one main way in which it evolves. When you're constantly threatened for your overall personality it can begin to take a toll on your mental state. You may become secluded rather than an open person who embraces who they are.

In cases such as these some teens may not see any options. This is where the real problem starts and playful picking and teasing soon turns into a person’s decision between life and death. Some teens turn to suicide, drug abuse, and even going as far as to taking matters into their own hands and seeking a way to get even. This is why teens should have an authority figure in which they can trust and talk to whenever they feel disconnected from their self-worth. It's always better to stop the problem, even if the signs are minor, before it goes beyond the individual’s control.

List and consider options

My own problem comes from my daily interaction with others and partly based on my development as a teenager. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't pressured or that I easily disregarded this topic and honestly I have found that it's a rather hard obstacle to over-come. I've also found that not only does it affect me but my family and friends as well, how I view myself distresses them kind of like a domino effect. Sometimes, on bad days, it affects my self-worth and even my concentration in school.

So the problem is my self-esteem, the consequences are that it effects my family friends, education, and mental state. I can solve this problem with one of three ways. One, I have medical treatment in which I'm helped to overcome the problem and learn to disregard it. Two, I simply ignore it on my own and carry on with my daily routine. Three, I take it one day at a time and slowly develop a block to protect myself from the affects.

Examine advantages and disadvantages

But each of these has consequences and option two and three have the worst. If I 'ignore' the problem at hand maybe I will be ok for an extended period of time. Maybe I will learn to get over the issue and come to terms with who I am as a person. But the damage is already being done and the internal wounds are still raw regardless of the mindset I've set up to block the blows. Option three can causes me to develop an entirely new problem in which I'm afraid to open up and completely exclude myself from others to avoid the issue.

Choose and implement a solution

Therefore I see option one possibly having more of a 'specific' and clean cut effect. Although that doesn't necessarily mean it's the best option for other individuals. Option two and three both have positive effects in which I do learn to cope with the problem and move on with life. If that's all that I want from the solution then either of those can work but if I'm wishing for an option that will have a balanced action and reaction I see number one as the right choice. The problem was resolved overtime and I found that the consequences aren't as severe as others in the past.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the solution

In research it has been debated that in order to obtain a good definition of one’s-self they must go through more than one concept. According to Doctor Dr. Nathaniel Branden one of these factors that contribute to the root of our self-esteem is our state of mind. He says that our mind is our basic tool of survival and if it isn’t focused on our well-being it diminishes our potential as an individual to grow. He also states that we must have self-acceptance to attain a positive self-esteem. Another key is that you must have a sense of pride in the person you are and to stand up for yourself; this does not mean be inconsiderate of others feelings while protecting your own (

Self-esteem is a problem that must be treated with a process in order to change it for the better. It’s one that has given me more trouble than I can recollect. Another problem that I have come to face is the fact that I’m an over achiever. This means that I set standards too high for myself that sometimes are to unrealistic to meet. While this can be a negative it is also a positive because it helps me challenge my limits as an individual.

Identify the problem

Have you ever given yourself a set goal in which you didn’t achieve? Maybe the outcome wasn’t what you wanted or you just didn’t do as well as you had wished. This can make you have a poor attitude of yourself that causes you to doubt the possibilities of your own potential. It can then limit your enthusiasm in putting yourself out there for new challenges. On the other hand if you do succeed you will be more likely to be more of an ambitious person.

Gather information/List and consider options /Examine advantages and disadvantages

As stated by Dr. Gordon Flett, professor at YorkUniversity, children tend to decline in performance rather than improve when they push their selves’ to a certain extent. A few of these effects can include self-criticism, procrastination, perfect façade, and social isolation. It’s a basic system of events that lead the child into a corner of simply not putting forth as much effort. So while having large expectations and goals can be a good thing it can also be a negative when taken to extremes. It’s important to understand your limits and exactly what you’re capable of as a person( ).

Choose and implement a solution/Evaluate the effectiveness of a solution

These conflicts are two of my greatest struggles that I face on a daily basis. Each has an effect on my personal life, schooling, and overall mental state of mind. Through this research I’ve found that my experiences are similar to others and that they’re a common problem among people my age. The conclusion is that these are two problems I have to want to improve and not just decide to face them as they come. The best treatment itself isn’t medical but specifically mental.

Work Sited Page

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Gather information: Self esteem response questions

Low Self-Esteem Response: #1

How do you view low self-esteem? -"I think it's sad that people would feel less of a person or feel that their self-worth is not important.
Have you ever experienced self-esteem issues? Example? - "Yes I have. In school I wasn't in the 'popular' group. It made me have a low self-esteem about myself because I felt I wasn't worthy.
What causes the problem? - "When you’re being put down, bullied, and, being told that you're worthless and people who compete and fail will give them low self-esteem that they're not as good."
Whom or what does it affect? - "It affects anyone and their emotional state."
How can you handle it or overcome the problem? - "With some people it takes therapy and believing in yourself and ignoring others who put you down."

Anonymous family member- 57

Low Self Esteem Response: #2

How do you view low self-esteem? - "In my eyes I think it comes from bullying. It's pretty messed up considering I went through it."
Have you ever experienced self-esteem issues? Example? - "Yes, for example back when I was in third grade and my house burned down I didn't have many clothes left so the kids teased me for it."
What causes the problem? - "I think people teasing and picking on other can cause it."
Whom or what does it affect? - "Well it affected my life and the way I viewed and carried myself."
How can you handle it or overcome the problem? - "Just let it go and move on."

Anonymous- Student age 16

Low Self-Esteem Response: #3

How do you view low self-esteem? - "Well I view low self-esteem as something that people have when they aren't particularly proud of some part of themselves. Because society sets up expectations of what is supposed to be beautiful or desirable. It can be just someone not living up to any expectation they set for themselves low self-esteem is looking at the bad things you really wish you didn’t do or have or are and focusing on them to where they make you lower your opinion of yourself. I think it's sad."
Have you ever experienced self-esteem issues? Example? - "Yeah I really did once this year, it was when I played soccer. I would try my hardest to do better in the game so much and I would mess up nearly every time it really mattered and we would lose all the time and I couldn’t help but think that it was my fault for not trying hard enough even though I really was trying. Since our games were late too I didn’t have a lot of time or energy to really do my homework well or understand what we were going over in school because i was so tired that i was doing really bad in school comparatively so I felt like I was doing bad in all aspects of my life. I was pretty down then and felt like I was no use. It got to where I had to try not to cry every time I messed up, which was a lot."
What causes the problem? - "Lots of stuff really body image, grades, broken promises, having too much to do and not enough time to do it, people telling you that you’re worse than you are and believing it. Not living up to your personal expectations that may have come to be yours because society gave you the stereotype of how something or someone "should be."
Whom or what does it affect? - "It does affect others around you, how they view you and how they think they should act towards you. Some people may want to take advantage of it you know. Others may want to ask what's up and try to help you build your self esteem up."
How can you handle it or overcome the problem? - "To overcome the problem you have to know that your best is the best that you can do also that you can accept what you’re given and be comfortable with it. That pertains to body image. You are and you look the way you look and you’ve got to know that you’re the only person that looks that way and that you’re special."

Anonymous- Student age 16

Low Self-Esteem response: #4

How do you view low self-esteem? – “People that don’t believe that they have something to offer; that they’re unique or have any quality in any way.”
Have you ever experienced low self-esteem issues? Example? – “Yes frequently, especially when I was in middle school and parts of high school. I was into art and people didn’t understand me.”
What causes the problem? – “I think self-perception and lack of social and family support causes low self-esteem. A child is going to believe what they’re told and what is around you, even if it’s not true.”
Whom or what does it affect? – “I think it affects everybody. When you’re younger it affects you differently what people say and as you get older you have more social skill to deal with. If someone says something about me being an artist I won’t take it seriously but when I was younger it might have hurt my feelings.”
How can you handle it or overcome the problem? – “I think that everyone has to learn that they do have values and that everyone has uniqueness and to not let society or other people affect them. Understanding that automatically will help overcome low self-esteem because once you understand that then there’s no reason to have low self-esteem.”

Anonymous, Teacher 42

Low Self-Esteem Response: #5

How do you view low self-esteem? – “I view it as a mental issue. A person with low self -esteem only notices their flaws.”
Have you ever experienced low self-esteem issues? Example? – “Yes. When I was going through puberty I was a ‘late’ bloomer.”
What causes the problem? – “I think self-esteem can be caused by bullies. It can also be caused by media.”
Whom or what does it affect? – “It can affect the way you live your life. The way a person lives with low self-esteem can affect the goals that they set.”
How can you solve the problem? – “I guess you can solve the problem by evaluating your assets. Stop looking at all your flaws and appreciate all the good things. If a person accepted their flaws as part of which they are, that could also help.”

Anonymous- Student age 17

Low Self-Esteem Response: #6

How do you view low self-esteem? – “I view low self-esteem as someone who needs encouragement to help build up their self-esteem.”
Have you ever experienced low self-esteem issues? Example? –I have not really experienced this because my self-esteem has never really been low.”
What causes it? – Bullying is the biggest reason why people have very low self-esteems. Take bullying away and your problem will be solved.”
Whom or what does it affect? – It affects a person’s life, feelings and can cause people to commit suicide.”
How can you solve it? – “Give people encouragement and stop bullying. Bullying is the key to people have very low self-esteem.”

Anonymous- Age 17

Low Self-Esteem Response: #7

How do you view low self-esteem? – “Low self-esteem is something that can completely change the way a person sees their self.”
Have you ever experienced low self-esteem issues? Example? – Yes. In middle school I never went anywhere or talked to anyone because I had such a low opinion of myself.”
What causes it? – “I think insecurities and bullying causes low self-esteem.”
Whom or what does it affect? – “It can affect everyone and the people around them.”
How can you solve it? – “You solve it by having a higher opinion of yourself and by surrounding yourself with people who won’t look down on you.”

Student- Age 15

I concluded five things from this experiment:

More than half of the people I questioned mentioned bullying was a cause of low self-esteem and had all experienced harassment in this way.
Most occurrences of low self-esteem took place in middle school or high school.
Most solutions question seemed to agree that the best thing to do is simply move on and embrace the positive of yourself rather than the negative. They believe you can move on from it on your own without treatment.
The age differences showed the effect that individuals experienced low self-esteem at different stages and not just a particular one.
Most cases of low self-esteem seemed to have some consequence on the individual’s life and or family/friends.