One little piece of advice by Dramyah

One little piece of advice by Dramyah - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could give one piece of advice to my past self, it would be this: “Trust your journey and stop comparing your progress to others.” I would choose this advice because much of my past anxiety and doubt came from feeling like I wasn’t doing enough or moving fast enough compared to people around me. Looking back, I realize that my path was never supposed to look like anyone else’s. Everything I experienced—the good and the bad—shaped me into who I am today and prepared me for what’s ahead.

In the past, I spent too much time scrolling through social media, watching classmates get internships, scholarships, or accolades, and feeling like I was falling behind. Even though I was working hard, it felt like my progress wasn’t as visible or “impressive” as theirs. I judged my worth by external achievements instead of trusting the quiet progress I was making. I wish I could go back and tell myself that growth is not always loud or public. Sometimes it’s happening in silence, during the long nights of studying, the quiet moments of reflection, or the personal battles no one else sees.

If I had truly believed that my journey was enough, I would have been gentler with myself. I wouldn’t have wasted energy on self-doubt. I would have celebrated my small wins instead of waiting for some big, perfect moment of success. I would have trusted that my hard work, though it looked different from others’, was setting the foundation for my future.

I would also remind myself that failure is not a dead end but a part of the process. There were moments when things didn’t go according to plan—whether it was a failed test, a missed opportunity, or rejection from a program I wanted. In those moments, I felt like a failure instead of recognizing that every setback taught me something valuable. I wish I could have told myself to be patient, to reflect on what I could learn, and to keep moving forward with resilience.

Another reason I would give this advice is because comparison often robbed me of joy. There were so many times when I achieved something great, but instead of celebrating it, I compared it to someone else’s success and felt like it wasn’t enough. I missed out on feeling proud of myself. Now I understand that joy comes from within, not from measuring up to other people’s standards. I want my younger self to know that her accomplishments, no matter how big or small, are worth celebrating because they represent her hard work and growth.

Finally, trusting your journey means embracing who you are. In the past, I sometimes tried to fit into boxes that didn’t feel authentic to me because I thought that’s what success looked like. I followed paths that other people expected of me instead of exploring what truly made me happy. I wish I could tell my past self to listen to her own voice more closely, to follow her passions unapologetically, and to believe that being herself is enough.

In the end, everything worked out the way it was supposed to. The struggles shaped my resilience, the detours taught me flexibility, and the comparisons taught me the importance of self-worth. If I had trusted my journey earlier, I would have saved myself from unnecessary stress and self-doubt. That’s the advice I’d give my past self—not because I regret my journey, but because I want her to walk through it with more peace and confidence.