<p>
[quote]
Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.
--- Richard Bach
[/quote]
</p>
<p>ASSIGNMENT: Is there always a gain from experiencing hardship? Plan and write you essay, blah blah blah blah blah...</p>
<p>My Essay</p>
<p>"Every problem has a gift for you in its hands." I laugh at the absurdity of this quote. Though MOST hardships make us a better person by teaching us important virtues and aspects of life, sine are just pointless, unlucky mishaps that teach us nothing.</p>
<p>My twelfth grade finals were just a month away. I was proud of my work in the year. I'd received great grades on all of my projects and assignments - even in Chemistry, my most hated subject! It would be my best year in High School. It was not. Just a little over 25 days from my examination, I mysteriously developed urticaria. Not only did I look hideously like I'd been stung by an entire hive of bees, my body itched everywhere, and I scratched everywhere. Worst of all, my allergens could not be discovered successfully, and I had to be put on extremely high dosages of antihistamines. Drunk as a skunk, I sat for my tests. Obviously, I failed. Though my friends and family try to cheer me up, telling me I would later laugh at this mishap ... I doubt it. There was nothing funny about it, and there was nothing to be learned from it either. It was just a bad experience. That's all, no more and no less.</p>
<p>In Dickens' Great Expectations, the protagonist, Pip has all his expectations shattered soon after he discovers his guardian and benefactor is an exiled convict. From no fault of his own, Pip is stripped of his wealth and affluence, and soon his love. The felon, whom he begins to admire, also dies from injuries in a struggle while escaping. Pip's love, Estella, is also betrothed to Drummle, a rival. And even though she returns to Pip a little over a decade later, hr has to suffer through years of pain and misery. This cloud had no silver lining. There was no bright to Pip's suffering. It was just a bad experience.</p>
<p>In conclusion, not every problem has an advantage. Not every hardship has something to be gained from. To assume so would be foolish. Just like with my finals, and just like with Pip, some experiences in life are simply unfortunate and pointless. Nothing can be learned form them; they only serve to hurt us.</p>