Determined by Felicity

Determined by Felicity - May 2021 Scholarship Essay

During my first year of high school, I struggled in my English class. Whenever I was presented with an essay topic, I would continuously stare at a nearly blank sheet of paper as I made an attempt to formulate my next sentence. Despite my tireless effort, my essays lacked sophistication. As a result, my grades also suffered. After losing confidence in my writing skills, I confided in my older brother. He mentioned the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) Writing Foundations Boot Camp that takes place at the University of California, Los Angeles. Determined to become a better writer, I took advantage of this residential program during the summer.

Throughout the course of this program, I would gaze at the whiteboard intently as the professor lectured and prepared any questions I had on my blue spiral notebook. Eager to acquire knowledge on how to perfect my writing, I would always be the first to raise my hand in order to gain a more detailed explanation of confusing topics. Subsequent to writing timed essays, I received one-on-one feedback with the professor where he discussed my mistakes and gave me new ideas on how to gather evidence and create sentences that best support my claim. Initially, I had difficulty with simply planning an effective introduction, but after I read the examples posted on the board and spoke with my fellow group members, ideas began flowing through my brain. My hands would move hastily from left to right on the paper as I applied the information I learned to create well-developed paragraphs.

By the end of the program, I realized that I did not lack the ability to write well, instead it was the lack of confidence in myself that was hindering my progression. With encouragement from the faculty and my peers, I saw a rapid growth in my self-esteem, which facilitated my transformation into a much better writer. With this newly developed self-assurance, I established the courage to continue my journey by enrolling in the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition class to further strengthen my skills and prepare me for college. After passing the final exam to earn college credit, I realized that all I needed was hard work and determination to be successful.