By the time children reach adulthood, they realize most people are caught up in their own lives and do not have the time or energy to worry about someone else. Adults struggle with their own responsibilities, yet they are more secure in their beliefs and what defines them. What seemed crucial to one’s identity as a child becomes completely irrelevant as an adult. Adults are more defined by their response to adversity. Even though Nancy Mairs suffers from an incurable illness, she chooses to not let her disease define her (Doc D). While it may be true Mairs is crippled, she feels the activities she partakes in define her more than her illness. Comparably, Hillary Clinton also overcame a hardship. Although she does not suffer from an illness, she defeated political controversy. She maintained her own individual identity throughout her entire presidential campaign by not allowing her husband's scandal to define her. Mairs and Clinton both exemplify that misfortunate events should not determines one’s story of life. At various stages in life people struggle to understand themselves; this is called an identity crisis. In high school, I am encouraged to make decisions based on the person I am today that will affect my future and the future me. However, how can I decide at just sixteen, the career path that future me will enjoy? Not only am I still growing physically and developing mentally, my identity continues to unfold