Rainbow Loom by Chawan
Chawan's entry into Varsity Tutor's March 2026 scholarship contest
- Rank: 5
- 1 Votes
Rainbow Loom by Chawan - March 2026 Scholarship Essay
A tangled ball of colored rubber bands became the core of my frustration as I struggled to make a bracelet. The summer before freshman year, elastic bracelets were the trend, and every hangout became a competition. While others effortlessly secured their designs with an “S” or “C” clip, I could barely link ten bands before mine unraveled.
I refused to ask for help. It seemed like a simple task, and my pride told me I should be able to figure it out on my own. Using just my fingers, I fumbled through failed attempts that led nowhere.
Then came the Rainbow Loom, a plastic tool with pegs and a hook that made the process easier. I resisted at first, using it felt like cheating, but eventually, my frustration outweighed my pride. I gave it a try.
Through trial and error, I realized my problem wasn’t just technique, instead it was the foundation. If the first layer of bands wasn’t secure, the bracelet would always fall apart. That realization extended beyond bracelet-making when I learned without a strong base and the willingness to accept help, real progress is almost impossible.
That moment grew into Hands for Happiness, a club I founded in my junior year. What started as making bracelets for fun became a group of more than twenty members creating bracelets and cards for children’s hospitals, shelters, and senior homes. Every meeting, someone would come to me for help, whether they couldn’t secure a clip, were confused about a pattern, or wanted a creative idea for donations. I became the person they looked to when they were stuck, and I realized how natural teaching felt to me.
Through this club, I discovered that my creativity wasn’t only in the bracelets themselves, but in how I explained steps, solved problems, and supported others. Teaching became the most meaningful part of the process, and it’s what led me to want to pursue education. The bracelets were small, but the impact they made, the joy I found in guiding others, shaped where I want to go next.
