Balance by Emily

Balance by Emily - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

Looking back on my years as a younger student, I expected the world out of myself and out of my work. I was only pleased with straight A’s and 4.0’s. I stressed myself out to the max over it every quarter. The question is… Do I regret it? To an extent… Yes, but I knew I could do it and I was not stopping until I did. Now, my advice to younger students today is to have high expectations and dreams for yourself, but to remember to take care of yourself as well and that if your little brother needs you and your help… the homework can wait. Life is too short and I fully believe that the key to a happy life is all about balance.
Balance between school, work, family, sports, a job, friends, volunteer work, and honestly, whatever makes you happy. I suggest to not be so hard on yourself. It took a while for me to realize that your brain doesn’t fully develop until the age of 24. It’s truthfully inevitable that you’re going to make mistakes, and a lot of them at that. I highly recommend considering the possibility though, that your mistakes are actually lessons. Learn from them, grow from them, and be better because of them. When you are a teenager, it's easy to think you are invincible; but do not let a dumb mistake teach you that you aren’t.
Be yourself and follow your dreams. Do something little every day to work towards that dream. Whether it’s becoming a doctor, going into the Navy, being a first grade teacher, or a CEO, make a list of ways to get one step closer to reaching your dream. Study hard, but don't give up on talents and hobbies. If you like to run, run. If playing an instrument makes you happy, play your heart out. If you enjoy drawing, draw everything that you lay your eyes on. Pursue the things you are passionate about and focus hard in school, and one day… You will get there. You will reach every goal, and every dream.