Finding Open Doors by Celia

Finding Open Doors by Celia - February 2017 Scholarship Essay

In high school, I was always at the top. I was a successful member of the Speech and Debate and Mock Trial teams, and I won several awards over three years. My journalism teacher constantly complemented my writing skills. I graduated high school as a member of NHS and CSF, the best student in the English and French Department, and as valedictorian. All my classmates were jealous when I was accepted to UCLA as an honors college student.
I started college so excited for all the opportunities that awaited me. I was thrilled to continue my favorite high school experiences with students who were just as dedicated as I was. I was fully prepared to bring my work to the next level.
However, I was not prepared to compete with other students who were even more qualified than I was. I could remember the devastation I felt when I did not make the UCLA Mock Trial team. Still, I persevered and applied for more activities and organizations, but I was rejected nearly every time. When I rushed for sororities, I only received two bids. I did not get a bid from the pre-law fraternity, either. I applied for a job at one of the school’s libraries and did not get it. The biggest blow occurred when I was rejected for two different sections of the Daily Bruin, UCLA’s student-run newspaper.
I was devastated. In only a few weeks, I had been rejected from nearly every organization I had applied to. I felt so alone. I had hoped to take advantage of so many opportunities college gave me and to make new friends along the way. Instead I was stuck and unwanted by every group in school.
I quickly realized that I had to change my focus to have the college experience I desired. I would have to find groups that would accept me for who I was and clubs that I was passionate about. That was when I attended the first Bruin Scouts meeting. The Bruin Scouts is a club that works with local Boy and Girl Scout troops. Every year, they host a large event called College Day, in which young scouts come to campus and learn about volunteering, college applications, and a variety of useful skills and information. As a former Girl Scout, the club’s dedication to community service and work with younger scouts interested me.
I was nervous when I went to the first meeting. I had no idea what to expect. After my previous experiences, I was not sure I even wanted to join a club. Just a few minutes into the meeting, however, I realized I had no reason to be afraid. The members all welcomed me. Most had been former scouts as well, so I fit right in. We talked for a bit about our previous volunteer work, and then we played several icebreaker games. I finally had found a club that welcomed me with open arms, and I was sure to attend the next week’s meeting.
After experiencing the kindness of the Bruin Scouts members, I decided to try attending other club meetings as well. After looking up several clubs online, I decided to attend a UCLA Debate Union practice. I had enjoyed debate in high school and hoped to find other friends who shared my interest. After attending only a few practices, I found that I had a great deal in common with this group. Everyone I met was outgoing, friendly, and willing to teach me how to compete in their style of debate. They encouraged me to compete in a few competitions, which was a great learning experience and an even better bonding experience. I met fellow students who would talk about subjects ranging from law school applications to coffee flavors. Once again, I had found an organization that readily welcomed me as a member.
These new club experiences gave me the courage to apply for the Honors Fellows Program. The Fellows Program is in the process of being brought back from a hiatus. The groups consists of ten students who work as peer counselors, event organizers, and active community members within Honors. The application process was long: I had to complete a written application and participate in a two-hour long group interview. After my past application experiences, I was not expecting to be chosen. I was applying with many qualified candidates who were equally dedicated.
I felt nervous before the interview. I had never participated in a group interview and I didn’t know anyone I was interviewing with. All eight of us were nervous at first. However, as we began to work on different team-building activities, we quickly came out of our shells. Many of us discovered that we had similar interests. One girl was even in one of my GE classes. Two weeks after the interview, I felt ecstatic when I was told that I was chosen to become a Fellow.
My earlier college experiences gave me the wrong impression of life at UCLA. I started college as a pessimist, but grew to learn that there are so many more opportunities than the ones I had initially been drawn to. I learned that if I apply myself and am always willing to try new things, I will always feel like I belong.