Chapter 10: Facing the Challenges – Personal Struggles and Growth

No journey is without its challenges. And for Stray Kids, the road to Hope was no exception. We had experienced the highs of success and the lows of failure, the exhilaration of performing on stage and the exhaustion that came with it. But throughout it all, one thing had remained constant: our commitment to each other, and to our fans. Even when things got tough, even when we questioned whether we were on the right path, we knew that we had something worth fighting for.

It's not always easy to talk about the struggles we face as a group or as individuals. We've all been through moments where we felt like we couldn't go on, moments when we felt like giving up was the only option. But the thing about Stray Kids is that we don't give up. Even in our weakest moments, we find a way to keep pushing forward. We owe that resilience to each other. We know that, no matter what happens, we always have each other's backs.

There were times during the making of Hope when things weren't going as smoothly as we had hoped. The pressure was mounting, and the weight of expectations was heavy on our shoulders. But it was during those moments that we leaned on each other the most. We would spend hours in the studio, working through our frustrations, sharing our doubts, and reminding each other why we were doing this. We were creating something that was bigger than ourselves. And in those moments of struggle, we found strength.

One of the biggest personal challenges I faced during the creation of Hope was learning to balance everything. We were working long hours, putting in everything we had into the album, and it was easy to lose sight of ourselves in the process. There were days when I felt completely drained, physically and mentally. But it was in those moments that I had to remind myself that I wasn't alone. We were all going through the same thing, and together, we would get through it. It wasn't about individual strength—it was about the strength of the group. And that's something we had learned over the years: no matter what happens, we will always rise together.

We also had to confront some personal struggles along the way. There were moments when we felt uncertain about the direction we were headed, when we questioned whether we were making the right choices. But with every doubt came growth. We realized that we didn't have to have all the answers. It was okay to not know what was coming next, as long as we stayed true to who we were and what we believed in. The process of creating Hope taught us that growth isn't about having everything figured out—it's about learning from your experiences, embracing the challenges, and trusting that you will find a way to move forward.

It wasn't just the pressure from outside forces that we had to deal with—it was the pressure we put on ourselves. We had always held ourselves to high standards, always striving for perfection, always pushing ourselves to be better. But with Hope, we realized that perfection wasn't the goal. The goal was to be authentic, to create something that was true to who we were, even if it wasn't perfect. And in that realization, we found a sense of peace. We didn't have to be perfect to be worthy of our dreams. We just had to keep going, no matter what.

Hope wasn't just an album—it was a reflection of our journey. It was a reflection of everything we had learned, every challenge we had faced, and every triumph we had celebrated. It was a reminder that growth is messy, that success is not always linear, and that sometimes, the most beautiful things come from the toughest struggles. And through it all, we remained united, because that's what Hope is about. It's about finding the strength to keep going, no matter what life throws at you.