The Toughest Teachers Built the Strongest Parts of Me

At the time, I hated them.
The teachers who were hardest on me.

I did everything right (or at least I felt so). 
I followed the rules. I delivered results. 
But somehow, it was never enough for them. 

They pushed harder. 
Expected more. Praised less.
I thought they were unfair. 
Too strict. Maybe even biased.

Turns out,
They weren’t just teaching subjects.
They were teaching survival.
They were preparing me for a world where:

• Effort doesn’t always yield rewards.
• Criticism comes without warning.
• Setbacks aren’t optional. They’re guaranteed.
• Talent alone isn’t enough.

They were building what textbooks never could:
– Resilience. 
– Grit. 
– Patience. 
– Pressure tolerance. 
– Mental stamina.

They weren’t trying to break me.
They were training me not to break.

If you had a mentor, teacher, or leader who was tough on you,
Maybe they saw something you didn’t… yet.

I didn’t get it then.
I do now.
And I’m grateful.

Because talent without toughness is just wasted potential.