Senior Advice by Brian

Senior Advice by Brian - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

To be honest, I’m not that great at giving advice, but nearing the end of my senior year of highschool, I think I can shed some “senior” wisdom for the younger students.

I’ll start by giving a snippet of my own life. Since freshman year, I always found myself doing things for others. Whether it was my parents urging me to attend a new school or running errands for family and friends, there was little that I did for myself. Especially my friends, I always tried impressing them and tried getting them to like me. I did this by fabricating my own character: lying about what I liked and disliked, getting into new hobbies I know don’t suit me, disregarding my feelings for others, etc. I found myself wearing different traits and an obscure visage to be with the “in-crowd,” but all I felt was tired and lonely. I tried being someone other than myself for the sake of others, and I now know that doing so wasn’t going to end well for me.

To be honest, this was an epiphany I had not too long ago. I think a solid advice I could give young students is to care for themselves first. It’s great to have a support system of family and friends, but just remember it is as important to nurture one’s character and well-being first above all else. As Jorge Luis Borges says, “So plant your own gardens and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.”