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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43201
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

A character's strength is shown not in dwelling in the past but in using what they learned there to rock their future. Yes she had hard times, but -like you said- she overcame them and is now much stronger for it. The same could be said to be true of someone who worked through the grief of losing a loved one or all of their physical possessions. Everything we go through has an effect on us. What we do with it is what matters.

If the focus of the story is not centered around how she overcame these struggles and is strong now, then you are less likely to have people perceive her as part of these 'warm fuzzies' stories. Those stories are built to showcase that. If the plot has to do with something else entirely then just have her live her life. If you wanted to have one of the other characters bring up the elephant in the room then have her respond to it in a way that is indicative of her. Is she dismissive -having moved past these struggles- or is she irritated that it keeps being brought up?

I have a friend who lost both his legs when he was young. He doesn't like wearing prosthetics, and so as a result has gotten very strong. He does not look at a problem as something that others should fix for him, he just finds a way to fix it himself. He was on his way to an interview which was on the third floor, and found that the elevator was out. He didn't want to be late for the interview so he hiked his wheel chair up on his back, and climbed the stairs. He is one of the happiest care-free people I have ever met, and has a wicked sense of humor. He likes to pretend to be offended when someone says something that could be taken the wrong way by someone with his condition, but then he laughs and says he's just messing with them and life goes on. The reason I told you this story is because your witch character is someone. She has a personality, sense of humor -or lack thereof- and the events in her life have affected her, but she chose what she would take from them.

Original score: 2