It's Better Together by Daniel

It's Better Together by Daniel - March 2019 Scholarship Essay

The transition from middle school to high school was a tough one. With harder classes, larger class sizes, and a much bigger campus, stepping into my high school for the first time as a freshman was understandably overwhelming. Despite all of that, there’s one thing that I eventually realized that helped me get through it all: I wasn’t alone.

If I could give an incoming freshmen class any one piece of advice, it would be to not try to face everything alone, regardless of how much of a challenge it may or may not be. Once you’re in high school, you’re long past the point where hand-holding should be expected. No one is going to randomly come up to you and ask you if you’re doing OK or if you’re needing help in any way. You are ultimately responsible for yourself as is everyone else is responsible for themselves. Despite all of that, you don’t have to feel pressured to do well independently. This is when it’s best to branch out: make new friends, come up with new study strategies, adapt to new hobbies, and just enjoy yourself. Nobody is forcing you to face your challenges alone. If you can make enough friends when you first begin your journey, eventually you’ll realize that all of them are probably as nervous and panicked as you are.

Ultimately, while you can still succeed by yourself, it tends to be much easier to incorporate others into your life to work alongside. If you take on a challenge together rather than alone, you can help each other as you go and everyone learns at the same time. That’s the message I want incoming freshmen classes to remember. Don’t take burdens onto yourself if you can help it. If you keep your friends close with you the whole time, you tend to ignore everything that’s troubling you and are more likely to enjoy everything that’s to come.