An Uphill Climb by Annie

An Uphill Climb by Annie - May 2021 Scholarship Essay

Martin Luther King, Jr once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” I have felt a lot of uncertainty about my future, but the challenges I have faced and overcome throughout my life have given me faith to take my first step: college. I once faced a situation much like the switch to college life that has replaced my apprehension for the future with eager anticipation for the opportunities it may hold.

When I became a homeschooler at the beginning of middle school, my whole lifestyle became unbalanced. Up until that point, I was successful, well-liked, and surrounded by old friends in a private Christian school. I was the fastest student with the best grades, cruising effortlessly through my classes when, without warning, I changed churches, became a homeschooler, and joined a homeschool co-op, leaving behind everything and everyone I knew.

Once I stepped outside the comfortable bubble that was my life, I was surprised to discover that I was painfully shy, inflexible toward new ways of doing schoolwork, and hopelessly drowning amid a sea of hard work, memory techniques, and educational songs that everyone else seemed to know. I felt petrified; I was a creature of habit whose routine had been broken. I felt woefully unprepared for this new, unexpected life that was dropped unceremoniously in my lap.

But my story doesn’t end there. When I looked beyond my nostalgia for the past, adversity inspired change in me. In the new, engaging environment of my homeschool co-op, I grew to love learning for the first time and found I preferred challenge over ease. I met an incredible group of peers and teachers who I will always trust to love, encourage, and advise me. My worldview – shaped by friends, family, classes, and experiences – gives me the maturity and confidence that I also use to support and guide those around me, as well as a zeal for serving others that I know will serve me the rest of my life. Every day I strive to tackle my insecurities and use them to better connect with others; I have begun to leave my shyness behind. I am discovering my own dry, sarcastic sense of humor along the way and am constantly growing more confident in my talents and abilities.

Through my unexpected life as a homeschooler, I have become versatile in my capabilities and flexible toward change, which I know will translate directly into my ability to make wise career choices. Now, I am ready to attend Eastern Kentucky University this fall, where I plan to study American Sign Language and Occupational Therapy. I have also started my own professional art business, where I sell pencil and charcoal drawings and fill private commissions.

I never understood how much I was limiting myself until I had room to spread my wings. My potential was stagnating, but challenge inspired growth in me – and I flourished. The life decisions I am facing today are intimidating, but my experiences as a homeschooler have reminded me that you only grow stronger by climbing uphill. I can only imagine where the staircase that Martin Luther King, Jr envisioned will lead me when I take my first step: college.