Perseverance, Determination, and Dedication by Bennett

Perseverance, Determination, and Dedication by Bennett - December 2022 Scholarship Essay

2022 was full of firsts for me. I traveled across my beautiful home state of Oregon 3 times in one month for FFA District Officer Training, FFA State Convention, and SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference. I loved every second of it (minus getting carsick!) and made tons of new friends! While this may seem pretty normal, it is anything but for me.
2022 was the first year that I was not thwarted by anxiety, sickness, and hearing loss. In 2022, I overcame my anxieties, recovered my health, and got a hearing aid! It took me a long time to think about my fears and realize that I could overcome them. I won 1st in the State for Prepared Public Speaking and traveled to Atlanta, Georgia this summer to compete nationally! While I did struggle a little with my health while in Atlanta, I competed well and placed 14th in the nation! Interactions with my peers and teachers became easier once I received my hearing aid. I began to look forward to school!
I learned lessons in perseverance, determination, and dedication. It took all three of these things to discipline me to gain the ability to do all of the things I did this year. I learned so much this year; from public speaking to driving to learning to swing dance. I will use these lessons to continue disciplining myself once I enter higher education. Perseverance to stick it out, even though I will be far from home. Determination to work my hardest and do my best in everything that I do, whether that be a research paper or planning an event. And the dedication to work hard and achieve my dream of becoming a counselor.