Dooms Day by Diamond

Dooms Day by Diamond - August 2014 Scholarship Essay

I can feel a knot the size of a baseball stuck in the back of my throat. My heart sunk deep into my stomach. The repetition of self-belittling clogged my mind. I can hear myself saying how stupid I was. No, not me, I told myself. Was I not as smart as I thought I was? The tears began to flood my eyes. I couldn't face the fact that I got a composite score of 16 on my first ACT test. For days I was haunted by the view of my computer screen showing that unacceptable number. After days of near depression, I thought to myself there had to be some way I can fix this. My father could no longer work due to back and neck injuries. We were in a financial struggle. I had to find my way on my own.

I got a part time job so I could start paying for things like my ACT study material, the actual test and other expenses. No matter what I had to do, I told myself I am going to college. From that point forward I was determined to raise my score. Over the course of six months I studied the ins and out of different subjects like grammar, mathematics and critical reading. I retook the ACT four times until I got a score I was satisfied with. I finally reached a score of 22. I jumped a total of six points, and what I felt was indescribable. The combination of my will to not give up and maintain high grades, my job, and my part in a dance team, gave me the determination to never stop until I get what I need. I know I can do anything I put my heart and mind into, no matter the circumstance.