Failure by Ben

Failure by Ben - February 2017 Scholarship Essay

I’ve spent my high school career attempting to convince myself that I’m capable of anything if I set my mind to it. I signed up for AP World History my freshman year when my eighth grade Geography teacher refused to recommend me for it. (I earned an A in the class and a 5 on the exam) I ran a mile in under five minutes this fall after failing to break six minutes in middle school.
In eighth grade, I decided to pursue STEM at the local magnet school, one with a 16% acceptance rate. Having always loved math and science, I felt drawn to the program and immediately fixated on its classes, laboratories and its impressive reputation. (Bad idea in hindsight) I prepared for the admissions process, took practice tests, wrote timed essays for the first time and was rejected. After preemptively planning my next four years as a function of an acceptance, it was challenging to deal with the reality that I wasn’t considered good enough to attend.
I took this rejection as a challenge to my self worth and ability as a student. I set goals. I fiercely prepare and perform. My regret is never in the results but in the effort prior to the results.
I don’t fixate on the unreachable, but there is no limit when it comes to learning new things or beating old records. My hope is not to succeed, but to learn from failing continuously.