Doing the Hard Things first by Isaac

Doing the Hard Things first by Isaac - April 2026 Scholarship Essay

What is a skill you hope to master in the next few years, and how do you plan to develop it?

The skill I hope to master over the next few years is "doing the hard things first." This simple phrase is anything but simple, as it requires time management, discipline, and a willingness to delay doing what I want to do by first focusing on what I need to do. It wasn't until recently that I finally understood what that truly meant. I have not mastered it yet, but I am actively working toward it, and developing and strengthening this skill will remain a priority in the years ahead.

My understanding of this concept became apparent through music. After school, music became my outlet. I would listen to music for hours, and when my parents allowed me to turn my bedroom into a studio, I would spend hours playing the piano and composing my own songs. Music felt effortless because I loved it. Schoolwork, however, required a different kind of energy. When my grades slipped, my mother offered advice I have carried ever since: to do the things you want, you must first complete the things you need to do. That simple lesson planted the seed for the skill I am still learning to master.

Throughout high school, I took honors courses in English, Social Studies, and History, alongside a CTE drafting program, all of which were quite challenging. I also participated in ROTC, sports, robotics, and music, experiences that were more aligned with my interests and that sharpened my creativity and problem-solving skills. However, balancing what I enjoyed with what I needed to do proved difficult. During one quarter, I became so overwhelmed by demanding projects that I lost focus on completing them, which made me ineligible to participate in sports. It was a painful but clarifying moment. I had been investing my energy where it felt comfortable instead of where it mattered most. That setback became a turning point.

This year, I began deliberately shifting my approach, tackling demanding assignments before allowing myself to enjoy creative or leisure activities. The results have been real and measurable. My GPA for the first and second quarters of my senior year was 3.88 and 3.77, respectively, bumping my cumulative GPA to 3.12, which before this year had been a 2.8. I may not be graduating at the top of my class, but I am graduating with clarity about my future and the discipline to pursue it.

Looking ahead, I understand that transitioning from high school to college will present new challenges, and I will need to continue sharpening this skill. As someone who plans to double major in Business and Music, I know this will come with demands different from anything I have experienced before. It will require managing heavy workloads, mastering complex technical concepts, and navigating new social and professional networks. There will be moments when I have to work through difficult coursework before I can turn to the parts of my studies that bring me the most enjoyment.

I also know that doing the hard things first does not mean doing them alone. I plan to utilize campus resources such as the writing center, support groups, and academic advisors to stay focused and avoid the overwhelmed, paralyzed state of mind that once slowed me down. I also hope to build community by forming peer groups and clubs that support fellow students and artists. My long-term goal is to own a music production studio, and I know that dream requires building real business knowledge first. That means studying contracts, licensing, and financial management before I get to the parts I love most. None of that is glamorous, but all of it is necessary.

Doing the hard things first is not a skill I have fully mastered, but I now know what it feels like to choose discipline over comfort and to see the results on the other side. That understanding is the foundation I will build on.