finding comfort in uncomfortable situations by Grace

finding comfort in uncomfortable situations by Grace - August 2023 Scholarship Essay

I have battled with anxiety my entire life. I typically fail in that battle. Even the idea of entering a fresh circumstance makes me feel as though the world is ending and it will end terribly . I set myself the objective of "Stop being a weenie" or, to use more formal language,
"Put yourself out there"-as I entered my junior year of high school. Now that I'm entering my senior year, I can claim that I've accomplished my objective. This past year, I truly developed,
and as a result. became aware ot what mv tuture might brind.
Although I like to think that I have a lot of charm around my friends, up until my junior vear. would not approach a stranger and start a conversation. To be more receptive and accepting of unfamiliar people and circumstances, I have really pushed myself. I'm now generally considerably happier and able to look beyond the present thanks to this. Teenagers will always experience drama, but growing outside of my close-knit group of friends has taught me that the drama only lasts for the moment and that there is always a simple solution. I've had so many new social opportunities since overcoming my anxiety and obtaining my goal, and it's made me see beyond the present.
My entire life has also been spent dancing, and in the dance world, it's all or nothing. You must devote your entire life to dance if you want to be taken seriously. My family was unable to support me in spending 10+ hours a week at the studio due to financial or logistical constraints. I was terrified to join the dance program at my high school. It was the fall of 2020, I didn't know many people, and it was a class with students of different grades, so it was quite challenging for me to get over my anxiety and talk to strangers. I was so terrified of the strange scenario that I even discussed quitting several times with my mom during the first semester. Looking back, I am so proud of my freshman self for sticking around despite daily social upheaval. I managed to get over my anxiety and succeeded in the program. "This is what I want to accomplish with my life". thought. was shown my alternatives for pursuing a profession in dancina after lookinc beyond the confines of my little local dance studio. I had put myself out there and learned more
in z vears than had in y vears at mv loca dance studio
Then the dreaded junior year arrived, forcing me and all of our classmates to start really considering our futures. I was aware that if I could onlv dance. it would be quite difficult to find work as a performer. The professional world is in need of multi-talented individuals. I could dance, but I had never acted or sang seriously in my entire life, and I knew I had to find a way to change that. I was very anxious as I had enrolled in the acting and vocal classes offered by my school. I observed those lessons for the first month since I was unable to cope with the unfamiliar environment. At that point. I understood that I was enrolling in these programs for a purpose, and I needed to make use of them as quickly as possible. I persisted despite the voice in my head that kept yelling "NOOO STOP!!!" and once more, I thrived in a way that I had never
betore
That, in my opinion, was the wisest choice I have ever made. Along with this, I've also finally set and will pursue a career objective. I was determined to make a career out of musical theater. I have never more happier as I am right now as I continue to learn more about this craft.
I had gone into it with the attitude that "This will last a month," but now that I am fully emersed
in it, lam in the best place I have ever been in. As a senior, I am now applying to colleges and completing applications. If I had dont this a year ago I would have frozen at the section of
"select a major". I can say with great pride that whenever I go to that part now. I choose musical theater with complete conviction and jov. I've come a long way from the crippling anxiety of my Old self to the complete comfort in my own skin.
I never imagined that when I jokingly said, "My goal this year is to stop being a weenie," it would actually become a serious obiective that I happily attained. I also had no notion that it would lead me directly to discovering my life's passion and my anticipated future. I can't wait to find out what my future holds. Who knows, I might be able to get over my "weenieness" even
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