self preservation in unprecedented times by Iris

self preservation in unprecedented times by Iris - November 2022 Scholarship Essay

In high school I worked tirelessly both in academics and in my extracurriculars. I took extra classes and tested out the language curriculum. I attended school, took state tests and ACT tests, and then went to the University of Oklahoma to Girls State ALA for a week while I had pneumonia within two months my junior year. I wanted to go to a prestigious university outside Oklahoma, but Covid-19 halted my senior and kept me home at Oklahoma State University. People began to have the message of mental health and self care and I truly was not taking care of my physical or mental health. I started taking classes and while in general they are harder than my high school classes I stopped trying to strive for A’s; I became a B student with my fairshare of C’s and dropping classes. I have become a little more invested in myself and I truly didn’t believe I would. I anticipated being a student “on the grind” but I had to invest more in things I care about like civil rights and taking breaks for myself.
Most of my inspiration has been from my own mental health and how much I can handle from my school work. While it is easy to compare my feats to other students I do work hard. I work part time to pay for basic essentials like food and housing that other students don’t need to work for. I have become surprised that I am more aware of my own needs and have taken them into consideration. I have large ambitions to go to graduate school and I believe I can attain them in a manner that is not sacrificing my health. These years have been difficult and depressing with the pandemic, and exceedingly high levels violence that have transpired internationally. It’s been important to me to be empathetic and not be so self absorbed where my education is my not only priority. Health for myself has become an inspiration because I can’t advocate for myself or others if I’m unhealthy. I cannot flourish in my academics if I am ill.