As a South Asian woman battling acute PCOS, my health and identity struggles have taught me this: it is in the art of the struggle that we truly become. Struggles can create victims, or they can create warriors.

A warrior turns pain into empathy, bravery, and purpose. A warrior dusts the dirt off, and tries a third and a fifth time over again, even in the face of ridicule, shame, or judgement— especially then.

A true warrior knows there is no challenge too big, no failure too crushing, and no bully quite cruel enough to break them— unless they allow it to.

“Strength does not come from physical capacity— it comes from an indomitable will.” —Mahatma Gandhi