Teen Breathe Magazine

In his early career, Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper job because he lacked imagination. At school, Albert Einstein struggled with the rigid classroom environment. When Greta Thunberg was younger, she was sometimes unable to speak due to a condition called selective mutism.
You already know how these stories panned out. Fuelled by his rejection, Walt Disney went on to create one of the most recognisable brands in the world, built on imagination and wonder. Uninspired by the rigidity of school, Albert Einstein chose to educate himself and became one of history’s greatest scientific minds. As someone who speaks ‘when it’s necessary’, Greta Thunberg uses her voice to highlight the climate crisis.
Sometimes, what you – or others – perceive as faults can lead you in interesting new directions. And sometimes, these so-called flaws can be the root of your biggest strengths. Being shy or sensitive, for example, could be seen as a negative by some, but it might mean you spend lots of time being quietly creative, which is to be celebrated. Or it might mean you think about topics more deeply than others, or are more empathetic. In the future, that sensitivity and compassion could even inform your career choice, perhaps leading you towards jobs that help others.
Nobody is perfect and everyone has room for improvement. But it’s worth remembering that ‘faults’ aren’t always what they seem – the truth is, they’re a part of what makes you you.