Don't Hold Back by Diron

Don't Hold Back by Diron - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be pushing forward. I, myself, have done this majority of my life and today I stand here regretting and wondering what could have been if I had just pushed forward.

Since the beginning of school, I had always been considered shy, timid, and quiet. Even if I knew an answer in class, I did not raise my hand to answer the question. Teachers felt as if I did not know the answer along with a lack of participation and that reduced my grade. I fell within the mediocre crowd of students, to whereas; I should have been considered having great potential if I had just pushed forward.

In my early education, I was nominated for a program that included Talented and Gifted students. I declined because I did not want to be considered a “nerd”. But if I knew what I know now, I would have accepted the offer. Because being in that particular program or any program as such, opened many opportunities for students with credentials. I was once taking honors classes, but did not put forth an effort and was placed back in my original class.

So as I head towards graduation, I see my former classmates graduating with high honors and receiving scholarships. I only now wish I did not hold back and applied myself to higher standards.