Adapting
This image of a tree growing out of a rock shows that people with disadvantages can adapt to them. Many trees could not grow there because there is no fertile soil, however this species of tree has adapted to its environment to overcome the disadvantage being on a rock with few nutrients to grow. Disadvantages can be conquered, even if they are still there. For example, my friend's cousin-in-law is missing half of his arm, yet he manages to do everything people with two arms can. One thing he does is use his one arm to steady his phone while the arm with a hand types on it. Another example is my food allergies. They are a disadvantage since I cannot eat normal foods, but there are so many things I have learned to overcome my problem. I can use substitutions in foods like egg replacer (yes, that's what it's called) or soy cheese. I know how to find a restaurant I can eat at, and what to tell the server when I go there. I also know how to read labels and what to do in the case of an emergency. People say "I don't know what I'd do if I had allergies" or "It must be so hard to have allergies" but the truth is that I have had them all my life and I have learned how to adapt to whatever comes my way. My parents had to learn how to handle it themselves, and then handed more and more of the responsibility over to me as I got older. Before criticizing someone, it should not only be considered whether or not they have disadvantages but also if the person has adjusted to their situation and worked through it. People who have overcome disadvantages are to be respected, not criticized. This would be a piece of advice to add to what Nick Carraway's father said in The Great Gatsby.