I've learned many things in life but the core remains the same, don't take $#!+, don't let anyone stand over you, fight for what you believe in and don't give in just to please someone else

Well said. This is basically the truth. We don't just need to give up on situation. We need to be persistently contending with situation around so we can get what we truly want.

Lot of challenges will definitely come up but we must learn to be strong and to back up your explanation of "life is a game, play it well, i will to give this small proverb that says that

BEFORE GOLD CAN BE CALLED GOLD, IT MUST PASS THROUGH FIRE