Failure before success. by Haley

Failure before success. by Haley - February 2021 Scholarship Essay

Haley Nguyen
10 February 2021
Failure before success.
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a once famous doctor, told this to people all over the world. Not only did she use this as an example of others, but she also described me so well. I am that stained- glass window. This analogy goes well with my personality. On some days, my window is shiny and pristine, clean; occasionally, my window is grimy and grisly. Analogously, I go through different cycles just as windows do. Three traits that can be used to delineate me would be my determination, loyalty, and my role to be a leader.
I am the sparkly and shiny window that remains clean when others are showing their darkness. I am the window that remains determined no matter what the task is. Determination is the important factor of the overall success of failure in a person’s efforts. I have a great amount of determination when I am doing something. For instance, my goal is to go to college after high school and become an anesthesiologist. Going to college has always been one of my goals, and there's no way that my determination will ever let that change. I will not give up on my goals and I will remain staunch on my determination. There will be people that are like those stained- glass windows; always in my way and my goal won’t be easy but I will strive to prove to the people that try to bring darkness into my way. I know that with sheer determination I will attain my vocation and passion.
Determination and loyalty can be concomitant in many ways. If you are determined to succeed in life then you have to remain loyal to certain things for yourself to succeed. My determination feeds my loyalty and makes my windows shine and gleam with sunlight. My ability to remain loyal was eminent at home. This summer, I took 3 college classes and played travel softball on top of that. I have played travel softball ever since I could walk, but making sure that I had all my work done was a full task because of softball. I made sure to stay loyal to my academics first, but I was still determined to get a scholarship for the game I loved the most; softball. I remained loyal to always putting my academics first that I had a 4.0 by the end of the summer in my classes. Not only did I achieve that task but my talents also led me to getting a full ride scholarship to go play at the next level for softball at Eastern State College in Oklahoma. I am truly loyal to the task that I want to achieve in life, no matter what it is. My journey seemed adequate and facile; however, I would let the true darkness settle in and my window would be stained and shattered in such a minuscule amount of time.
To be a leader for me is like when that stained- glass window can be a mix of both critical and righteous. You must be confident enough to have others pursue your lead. If you are unsure, then how can you expect people to follow your lead? Fortunate enough, I set a perfect example of leadership to the people around me and I hold a preeminent amount of leadership at school. I am in FCCLA, TSA, NHS, Spanish Club, and currently ranked for valedictorian in my class. Not only have I shown an exemplary amount of leadership in school but I also have on the field with Softball and Track during my High School years. Success isn’t easy by any means but it’s always made me strive for more. Being successful has always made me eager to be at the top of my academics and I want to continue to do so throughout college. However, being a leader isn’t always like the pretty and shiny windows. Sometimes the windows can be so dark and stained that they won’t come clean.
Windows are such a frequent thing, but they can also indicate many things. My personality is so similar to that stained- glass window. I am the most determined and hard- working window of those around me. Teaching others around me on how to be a leader is very salient for me personally. My windows shine extra bright when I can help others become leaders. However, storms can cause my windows to rumble and leave them with darkness and mangle. I want people to view me as consummate but I'm not always successful and I do have failures in my life. Thankfully, without failure you can’t become successful.