This essay was written by Anamaria, age 19, from Albania in response to the 2023 Global Voices Essay Contest in Central and Eastern Europe. Anamaria was awarded an honorable mention for this entry.

We were all born special, unique and different, and diversity is what makes us so interesting. However, the constant belief  that everyone should be the same is so widespread, as is the prejudice toward those who are different.

My name is Anamaria and I was born in Albania. Unlike many others, but the same as some, I was born with disabilities. In society, many think of people with disabilities as incompetent and worthless, until they truly meet one. Everything I have learned from my parents and from my experiences is related to being resilient: to respect yourself, to be responsible and to solve the problems related to you and not only you, to be optimistic and leave a remarkable impact on others, to be confident in yourself, and to handle struggles.

The idea that having disabilities is weird, unsatisfactory, and embarrassing is instilled in a way that is perhaps not intentional, but negative. Thus, I had to face many prejudices, I had to "educate" and show the world that "disability" is not a "disability," since no one has unlimited abilities. All of us face struggles with certain things in life.

 I have gone through many tough periods in my life when I may have felt worthless, unimportant, incapable and unneeded. My friends would not stay with me due to my disability, simply because their moms would say so. I had people not believe my achievement, just because they did not understand that my physical disability does not affect my ability to live life. I had to work twice as hard to show my friends, teachers, colleagues that I could do it, that there is more to me besides my "disability," that I could achieve much more than any of them and nothing stops me. I didn't let my disability defeat me. The pain was always there, but so was hope. I would say “This is hard right now but I can keep improving with practice over time.” It is not the technical things that spiritually kill a person with disabilities, it is the wrong mentality, suspicious eyes and evil words.

I have not come across representation of having limited abilities in society, in the media, on the Internet. It's not talked about enough. That's why I wanted to influence others, to be the one who gives a positive impact on others, to change their opinion. This has fuelled my desire to make people aware as much as possible.

One thing I wish I had heard when I was younger, or I wish anyone who is struggling now would hear, is that disability is a blessing. It seems strange. But yes, disability makes you stronger. The moment you accept the fact, you are resilient and continue life, your disability becomes your strong point. We are masters at absorbing hardship and handling it gracefully.

On this day, I am confident and sanguine, and that’s how I would like everyone who is reading this letter to be. It will never stop being necessary to show how important it is to be optimistic and that a small effort of ours is enough to change someone’s worldview. How beautiful change and diversity are! How much we should love people!

One of the things that keeps people happy in life is helping other people. This means helping your friends or family when you encounter difficulties, but also new people you meet in certain circumstances, and being empathetic and supportive. The virtue of resilience is the virtue of turning the worst pain in your life into your power, and your power into growth.