If you're battling low self-esteem I'm currently treating the issue on my blog. Do yourself a favour and check it out. Here's an anonymous comment I thought to share with you:

I can effortlessly connect with Naomi’s write up. I was a remarkable failure. I wrote JAMB Exams about 8 times between 1993 and 2000 when I finally I got admission into a University. My inability to pass JAMB exams was used to insult me anytime I did anything wrong to my parents (my father, especially) and siblings. I was depressed and really angry; angry with myself, angry with God, angry with my parents, angry with everyone I ever came in contact with; because to a large extent nobody ever gave me a chance. What made it worse for me was that I had a lot on my mind and I didn’t have anyone I could talk to. I was the black sheep of the family, the outcast. So, I never felt welcome anywhere. I look at people with suspicion.

In between writing JAMB Exams and failing I wanted to prove to my parents and everyone around me that I can make something out of my life without their support, so I went out to get a job. I had worked as a Nursery school teacher, I worked in a Pharmacy, and I worked in a Restaurant. Just to make a point. And the whole idea about making a point was borne out of anger and resentment for my parents and siblings. I just wanted to “show them”. So, I’ll buy myself some nice shirts and sneakers and nice cologne. In retrospect, I was also working to hide my failure. Before, you draw any conclusion; I was a maniac when it comes to reading. I always read for my JAMB Exams like mad. But, each time I always fail.

So, I battled with depression and low self-esteem for a very long time. I never felt I was good enough for anything in life. I considered suicide a couple of times. But, when bouts of depression overwhelm me, somewhere on the inside of me, I feel a certain hope that I should try again, that tomorrow will be better, that God has something in stock for me. So, I kept at it.

I got into University when a sizable number of my mates were in Grad school. I was ashamed and angry. I just used to run away from them, I hide when I see them, because I didn’t feel good enough.

Because I love to read, I read the Bible quite a lot, just out curiosity and to engage in silly debates. In the course of my reading I realized I’m created in the image of Christ, so I said to myself that-“if indeed I’m created in the image of God, God wasn’t a failure”. Yes, I failed but, I’m not a failure and I’m not going to attempt to wrap it around some Socratic Philosophy. And I started praying and studying the Bible more diligently, though occasional thoughts of failure would taunt me. Somehow, I kept at it. Each time such thoughts come I’ll pray and use God’s word to console myself, so I found great solace in praying and reading the Bible.

Today, I look back at my life and I’m grateful to God. I’m grateful to my parents and I love them to death- my mum has gone to be with the Lord, my father and I talk a lot now, even though back then, he never gave me a chance. My siblings and I a bit close; I still struggle a bit in accepting them because of the way they made fun of me and ostracized me. In those years of failure, I learnt tenacity, hard work, determination, courage, faith, hope and commitment. Today, my colleagues marvel at my sense of commitment and hard work to job that pays “very little”. I keep at it because I know there’s a tomorrow and it’ll be better. I keep telling myself and my lovely wife-“things will not always be like this for us”.

I’m grateful to Naomi for starting this discourse and I’m hoping that
someone somewhere will look at failure and mistakes of the past and shut the door at it and move on; because tomorrow looks better!
Thank you Naomi and God bless you richly.

http://naomilucas..com/2013/12/series-what-do-you-do-when-you-never.html

your story is quite close to mine. When its your designated time to shine, nothing can take that away from you.

wrong section btw