Trust the Process by Ethan

Trust the Process by Ethan - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could go back and give one piece of advice to my younger self, it would be simple: trust the process. Not everything will make sense right away, and that’s okay.

There were plenty of times over the last few years when I felt lost or unsure of myself. Whether it was struggling with a subject in school, dealing with health challenges from my autoimmune condition, or watching other people seem like they had their lives perfectly mapped out—it was easy to feel like I was falling behind. I used to think that if I didn’t have it all figured out, maybe I wasn’t good enough or smart enough to get where I wanted to go.

But now, looking back, I realize that a lot of growth happens during those messy, uncertain times. I wish I could tell my past self that just because something feels hard doesn’t mean you're failing. Progress isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it’s quiet—like slowly building confidence, learning to ask for help, or bouncing back from setbacks you thought would break you.

For example, math used to be my worst subject. I barely passed one of my early algebra classes and honestly started to believe I just wasn’t cut out for it. But instead of giving up, I kept showing up. I went to tutoring, practiced even when it was frustrating, and eventually, something clicked. It didn’t happen overnight, and it definitely wasn’t easy, but I improved. That one experience taught me something I’ll carry with me forever: you don’t have to be naturally good at something to get better at it. You just have to be willing to keep going.

This mindset helped me outside of school, too. Living with a chronic illness meant missing out on things sometimes or having to explain to people why I couldn’t always keep up. It took time, but I learned to stop apologizing for the things I couldn’t control and started focusing on what I could. That shift didn’t just make me stronger—it made me more understanding, more patient, and honestly, more motivated.

Now, as I get ready to start college, I know I’m stepping into another chapter full of unknowns. But I don’t feel afraid like I used to. I feel ready, not because I have all the answers, but because I’ve learned how to keep going even when I don’t.

So yeah, if I could go back and say one thing to my younger self—the version of me that was confused, tired, or just trying to get through—I’d say: “You’re doing better than you think. Be patient. Keep working. Trust the process.”