This book called me out in so many different ways that I started getting a little too embarrassed. I felt personally attack a few times but I knew it was because the words applied to me like a mosquito. The mosquito being an unwelcome visitor, annoying, irritating, and leaving a horrible itch that lasts much too long, but of course all these things were in the form of words that I think I definitely needed to hear. Perhaps after reading this, its not so much the book acting as a mosquito, but in reality it's been my own intrusive thoughts pestering me, and this book shined a big old bug zapper on it. The sections that still stick to me talk about how vulnerability is sort of necessary throughout life and not at all a weakness, and all the different suits of armor Brown touched on as well as how to shed it.

    Applying the proper use and acceptance of vulnerability seems to be built into this whole TRAIN scholarship program. This class is full of other students all going through the same obstacles and feelings together, and being able to express those fears and worries has been extremely helpful in making the future less scary. Being comfortable talking about these topics makes it a little easier for me to inspire others or pass on my own "wisdom" to those who might be going through the same things. Its always comforting hearing how others had the same struggles and challenges, but its also still a lesson that needs to be learned on our own to some extent. For example, you could tell someone time and time again that a stove is hot, but someone who hasn't experienced it yet might have to test that statement for themselves. I'm not 100% sure that analogy applies, but the point is that people don't tend to take good advice until they truly want help. And seeing others be open about their struggles and expressing when they need help or showing that their armor has been shed might make it a little easier for someone to follow suit.

    Daring Greatly made me second guess a lot of my life progress because all this time I thought I had been doing pretty damn well in life...and then the chapter about armor happened. Everything I thought I was being strong and stoic about was just a coping mechanism to prevent harm. Foreboding joy for example, used to be me thinking I was just "prepared" for anything that could go wrong. Completely in control, but also unaware that I was completely wrong. I deprived myself of so many "good times" because I wanted to be able to anticipate everything that might happen, and I had no clue I'd been experiencing FOMO while still being present. After that chapter I just thought "man...this is exhausting", and to quote a favorite movie "worrying just means you suffer twice" (fantastic beasts). And it's so true!! I spent so much time worrying and then nothing would happen (suffering once), and then spending time worrying where something actually happened resulted in suffering twice. I have to constantly remind myself going through all of these stem courses that "you did everything in your power that you were supposed to do, worrying is just extra work that you're not getting paid for". Bad test grade but you still have a C? Hell yea, you landed a C in a hard class. Bottom line for new STEM students? It'll suck here and there BUT, you're gonna be fine, you're gonna do great, and you're gonna have the best time ever.