Stronger than yesterday by Anna

Stronger than yesterday by Anna - August 2014 Scholarship Essay

Ever since I was about seven years old, I have been on the course to becoming a pharmacist. There has been only a few times that I have faltered on my path. One time in particular was especially difficult.

About a year ago, I had completed all the pharmacy prerequisites, took my pharmacy college admissions test, and was one semester from completing my Bachelor of Arts in physiology with a minor in Arabic. I had applied exclusively to the University of Minnesota’s pharmacy graduate program. I had paid the fees totaling to $350. All that remained was waiting for my acceptance (or rejection) letter, which should have arrived by midsummer. I had a defined plan and was in control of my future.

My strategy included taking language credits over the summer. Full time credits took up the majority of my time, energy, and thoughts. As the nature of summer courses, it quickly concluded and the beginning of fall semester was immediate. Depending on the University of Minnesota’s response, I would either finally begin graduate school or finish my Arabic minor. Fall semester began and I finally contacted the only graduate program that I applied to, only to find out that they had absolutely no record of my application. I later found out that I had forgot to answer a dropdown about my past education. How ironic that my past education would hinder my future education. It was a devastating blow to my ambition, resolve, and foundation.

Somehow, no response was even worse than being rejected. All of my doubts and fears that I was able to keep at bay for years suddenly became daunting and unbearable. I was no longer confident in my skills. This fear rapidly leaked into nearly every aspect of my life. For the first time, I seriously considered giving up. Giving up my dream of becoming a pharmacist. Giving up my insatiable desire for knowledge. Giving up my ambition to promote healthcare and the wellbeing of the general public.

I had never been in such a dark silent place with seemingly no exits. For the first time, my future was irresolute. I had lost control. To make matters worse, I had just begun 14 credits of my last semester of my undergraduate program. There are myths that the last semester is supposed to be the easiest because theoretically, all the difficult courses were taken in previous semesters. Non-science majors must have started those rumors. I was overwhelmed by what was required of me as well as all that I was trying to accomplish.

Aside from planning practically every minute detail of my life, I was equally equipped at the gift of denial. Facing a daunting quandary went against my nature and so I dove into blissful oblivion. I didn’t speak or even think about it. When questioned, I told people that I had been rejected.

One day, something suddenly awoke within me. A part of me that rarely emerged created the fuel needed to renew my passions. My fire was bigger and hotter than ever before. I retook the pharmacy college admissions test with the hope of improving my score. I reapplied to the University of Minnesota’s pharmacy program as well as several other schools throughout the country. I am determined to achieve all of my dreams and I now know I will because I am too strong, willful, and stubborn to accept failure and defeat.