My Strength by Gabriela

My Strength by Gabriela - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

Throughout your lifetime, there is a mass majority of people that you meet. You forget about some and some are just more memorable than others. Can range from you sister, to your aunt, to your neighbor, to a stranger that you meet at a concert.Unfortunately, our loved ones can’t stay with us forever.
In my lifetime, I met a special women who changed the way I viewed life. When I found out that she had died, it left me in total astonishment. My tears fell out of my eyes like a waterfall.It caused me such a heartbroken feeling. The last time I saw her was around the end of the school year of my sophomore year. I met her in the summer before my freshman year. She taught me so many things that I’ve never gave much importance to. I was hoping that she would see me graduate and walk across that stage. Even though she won’t be with my physically, I know that she would be at my side mentally and spiritually giving me that support that she has always given me.
That wonderful lady was named Ms. Theresa Helm Rogers. It all started from the beginning of the summer before my freshman year. My older sister whom at the time was a Junior ,told my twin sister and I that we should join a summer program which was called Students In Action. The goal of this program was to get students out of their comfort zone. To be able to give out to their community and help as much as they can. How the world truly is better when we help one another ,for students to be able make connections with the outside world and be involved with one another. This program from the start completely changed my high school experience. We did certain activities that made me get out of comfort zone. For example, I clearly remember the first day of the program which also was the day when I first met her. We were going on field trip to a forest preserve to get to know one another. We accomplished different activities that caused us to work and talk so we could solve the problem. One was when there was a tight rope and you had to walk across it without falling. Our peers would stand on each side of the rope to catch us in case if we were to fall. At first, I was more than positive that I wasn’t going to try it. Ms.Helm Rogers kept on insisting for the rest of students including myself to give it try. She would say ”c’mon try it ! Take a challenger. Be brave, you can do it!” Her motivating words did push me to be more dauntless. I finally took a step and walked on the tight rope. There was a couple of times in which I felt that I would fall over, but even so I realized that there was nothing to worry about because my peers would be there to catch me and help to regain my balance. After I did it, both of my sisters gave it a try. Not only that, but the rest of my peers went! My action caused and motivated others do it as well. With just a couple of words of encouragement caused me to take a risk that I thought of not capable to do. Little experiences like that have taught me that I should always try new things.To not be afraid of anything. It will always teach me something no matter if I end up liking the experience or not.
I can still smell her scent of her perfume that she would wear.That delicate yet fierce smell. Being able to hear her from the other end of the hallway with the her ID chain. Hearing her “Hello Gabriela!” and that joyful smile that she would give me every time. I will remember her from even the littlest things. You will never get over the passing of a loved one, but you do have to accept the fact that they are no longer with us. I just had to accept the fact that she wouldn’t be able to accompany me anymore. I will always keep her in my thoughts and memories. Remembering the things she taught me.My thoughts that day when I found out that she was gone, it shattered me completely, but I knew that no matter what I would always keep her close to my heart.
There’s certain things in life that are going to be thrown at me. There’s major ones that are going to be much more difficult. My necessity will be to try to stay positive as much as I could. There’s certain letdowns in life that will cause me to have not enough strength, yet I should think about how I could let a negative push me to want to improve. With the passing of a loved one, I will keep their words in my thoughts and aim towards the goals that they wanted me to accomplish. I will keep their motivating words with me as I strive to reach my ambitions.