Difficulty Chapter 3

The Literature section of Chapter 3 states that conflict is a part of life. Difficulty is what forces us to grow and better ourselves. Some people look forward to challenge because they know that challenge will mold them into better people. Even though I acknowledge the truth in this, it is still hard for me to remember it when I am faced with a problem. I am the best French horn player in my school band, and I thought I was doing fine. When I learned that my technique was not only flawed, but that playing the way I was would eventually permanently damage my facial muscles, I panicked. I didn’t understand what I was supposed to do. All I knew was what I’d been doing, which was apparently wrong. I got so caught up in not knowing that I made a fatally incorrect assumption. I didn’t know what to do yet. I spent all my time worrying, panicking, and insisting …show more content…
I spent a fair amount of time puzzling over what my teacher told me. When I thought I had a fair understanding of what I needed to do, I decided to try it. It took a while of practicing, but I got the hang of the modified technique. I found that I could play higher, and I couldn’t wait to tell my teacher the next day. She was very happy for me, and I was happy too. Unlike Helen’s sudden and eye-opening realization, my triumph was more gradual, and changing my playing technique didn’t matter nearly as much as Helen learning language. On the other hand, both Helen in the story and I in real life had the help of a teacher, but ultimately figured it out ourselves. The idea of things having names could not be formally taught and learned. Helen had to realize it within her own brain. The same is true for playing an instrument like the french horn. My teacher spent more time telling me what not to do than what to do. This is because there isn’t one way to do it. Everyone thinks differently, and it was up to me to figure it