Try, Try, and Try Again by Alexis

Try, Try, and Try Again by Alexis - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

When I was in high school I had several great teachers, but there was one in particular that made a great impact on my life. Her name was Mika Smith and she was my teachers three out of the 4 years I was in high school. She was my history teacher and UIL academic coach but more that she was my mentor. She always managed to say the things I needed to hear and push me past my limits. She invested the time in her students and that is what made her have such a lasting impact on my life. It wasn’t just that she invested in me it was that she provided words of wisdom that I carry with me too this day. Out of all the things that she said to me there was one thing that stood out in particular to me. She always told me was to try try and try again until I succeeded at my goals and I believe that this advice is what has made me successful up until this point.
In high school I wasn’t very confident in myself to achieve what I wanted but as she kept telling me those words of wisdom I began to believe them and it helped me be successful. I began to believe that I could be great and ended up graduating top 10% of my class. This advice wasn’t just useful in high school though but I would say it was even more important in college. I struggled my first semester of college, but then I had a coffee break with that same teacher and she told me those words all over again and it made me remember that it’s not about the failure but rather learning from that failure and being better for it. After a rough semester I have managed to come back stronger and it’s even what drives me to apply for this scholarship after many rejections from other scholarships.
This was the best advice I have received from a teacher and its advice I will give to other people I meet that are struggling. My drive for success will continue to flourish and will push me to finish my degree and graduate from college.