"A Lesson from the bee" by Cece

"A Lesson from the bee" by Cece - August 2023 Scholarship Essay

It was a warm morning in the bustling gym, where the annual spelling bee was about to begin. As the school started to assemble, I started to observe the stage and couldn’t help but to feel out of place. Doubts crept into my mind, questioning whether I belonged in this high-staked area. I stood on the stage shaking ready for the next word. The early rounds of the spelling bee were particularly challenging. The words that came my way seemed unfathomably complex. The pressure of the crowd, the judges’ watchful eyes, and the fear of failure weighed heavily on my shoulders. But nothing could replace what a young boy said to me. As I patiently waited for the next round a young boy told me “Why are you here, you are a fourth grader and fourth graders can’t win spelling bees.” I sat there in disbelief not knowing what to say. I tried to brush it off and progress but the words intensified and my rivals continued to shine.

Though I was intimidated I continued to show my determination and not be overshadowed by their brilliance. I turned this setback into an opportunity to learn and improve. I knew the amount of time I spent on studying and learning language patterns. I used that for each round of the spelling bee and as minutes turned to what felt like hours, I found myself among the last few contestants. The crowd’s cheers and applause fueled my determination further. I had reached a turning point where the underdog image I once carried into a symbol of tenacity. It was a breaking moment for me as a 4th grader and though that was years ago I use that moment to get through challenging problems to this day. I continued to do the spelling bee each year. There were times when I misspelled a word, and though I felt my world crumbling, I realized that setbacks were an integral part of growth. With renewed resilience, I embraced each failure as a stepping stone towards success. Perseverance became my way to keep going even when things felt against me.

As I look back, the journey of an underdog was what I needed. I was fortunate enough to have a supportive family, friends, and principal who believed in my potential, even at that little moment when I doubted myself. Their encouragement and my setbacks in my abilities motivated me to keep pushing forward. My journey as the underdog taught me invaluable lessons and the importance of embracing those challenges despite the initial fear, I learned to harness my determination, turning obstacles into stepping stones toward success. The triumph I achieved was not just about winning a spelling bee, but a testament to the strength that lies within each of us to persevere against all odds and achieve our goals.

In the nail-biting finale, the words thrown at me were like a maze. The moment of truth had arrived. With my heart pounding, I spelled each word with focus and determination. It was the embodiment of every lesson I had learned and every obstacle I had overcome. As the round concluded, I stood proudly as the underdog turned victor, the spelling bee champion against all odds. Today, I wear the badge of the underdog with pride, knowing that it was my greatest ally in transforming dreams into reality.