To a Past Me by Francesca Romana

To a Past Me by Francesca Romana - September 2022 Scholarship Essay

You have made it to nineteen years old, but you only learned something recently, something so important that it seems so hard to miss: you are not as alone as you feel.

It is so easy to feel ostracized, cut off from the world in a unique and horrible way. Sometimes it feels like you are sinking farther and farther in your hurt. The hardest part, I know, is that you feel alone. No one understands, nor can ever quite understand what you are feeling and thinking and suffering.

I know it is hard to believe, but people understand more than you know. Everyone you see throughout your day is dealing with a hidden pain that you may never know of, just as you are secretly hurting. That person you passed on the street, your classmate, maybe even your closest friend has secret scars.

So now you know—but what can be done?

What cannot happen is that things stay the same. It is up to you to change yourself and your circumstances and your life. But—and almost more importantly—its up to you to change the lives of those around you. Think back to a time when someone left a positive impact on you: a conversation, or even just a smile. Think about the person who honored you by remembering your name. Think about the person who eased your pain even a little—that person had hidden pain, too.

Now become that person. Be the one who eases the pain of others by your kindness, by your smile, and by your thoughtfulness. When you do this, you will begin to see the beauty of the people around you. You were never alone as you thought you were, you only had to make the effort to reach out to others. When you feel stranded, or misunderstood, or scared, or hopeless, focus on bringing joy to those around you.

When others are seen by you, you will feel seen.