Life Gets Better by Arienne

Life Gets Better by Arienne - April 2021 Scholarship Essay

Five years ago I was a scrawny 13 year old girl with depression who didn’t want to live through the next year. I didn’t know who I was or what I wanted with my life. If I could give my 13 year old self advice I would remind her that no matter how hard life gets there is always something worth looking toward.

I would advise her to focus on the small moments because they can bring unmeasurable joy. I spent too much of my life focusing on the bad. When I got a bad grade instead of telling myself that I would do better next time I wallowed in my despair. I didn’t appreciate those small moments when I was around my friends or when I ate diner with my parents. I wish I hadn’t, I wish I’d learned so much earlier that life is made up of those small and beautiful moments.

Additionally I’d remind her to prepare for my future. I’m woefully unprepared for college. I’ve known for the majority of my life that I wanted to attend Emerson College, but I didn’t save nearly as much as I would’ve liked or done anything to prepare myself more. For the most part, I didn’t think that I would make it to 18 so there didn’t seem much point. I am working to start financing my future, but it would be helpful if I had taken my future more seriously when I was younger.

Most of all I would tell myself that it gets better, that I should keep working and living because life gradually gets better. One of the things that I struggled with most was just keeping my head afloat. I spent too much time not being able to look past the next day. A simple reminder that one day if I keep working my life could improve so much would have helped me so much at 13.

Overall if I could give myself advice five years ago I would give myself advice that would make me happier and prepare me more for my life. I would remind myself to be happy and appreciate my life. I would remind her how to be strong.