Don't rush, Take your time by Jamiya

Don't rush, Take your time by Jamiya - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could give one piece of advice to my past self, it would be you don’t have to rush and have it all figured out right now.
Growing up, I put a lot of pressure on myself to have a clear plan, perfect grades, and immediate answers to every question about my future. I believed that success came only from certainty. If I didn’t know what to major in, what college to attend, or what career to pursue, I felt like I was falling behind. I used to compare myself to others who seemed more confident or more prepared, and I let that comparison shake my own confidence.
But what I’ve learned over time is that growth doesn’t always happen in a straight line. It’s okay to be unsure. It’s okay to change directions. The important thing is to keep moving forward, even if the path isn’t perfectly mapped out.
Every challenge I’ve faced, every mistake I’ve made, and every doubt I’ve had has taught me something valuable. I’ve discovered strengths I didn’t know I had. I’ve learned how to adapt, how to ask for help, and how to believe in myself even when things felt uncertain. The pressure to have everything figured out only distracted me from appreciating how far I was already coming.
I would tell my past self that success doesn’t come from having all the answers—it comes from having the courage to keep asking questions, trying new things, and trusting the process. Life has a way of revealing what we need to know, when we’re ready to learn it.
So, breathe. Be patient with yourself. Your future isn’t a deadline—it’s a journey. And every step you take, even the small or unsure ones, are bringing you closer to the person you’re meant to become.