Confidence is Key by Jessica

Confidence is Key by Jessica - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

Throughout high school, I was never confident. I wasn't confident in myself or my abilities and that is such a shame. I molded myself to fit the expectations of others and in the process, I lost parts of who I really was. High school certainly isn't like the movie Mean Girls, but it can be brutal. Everyone wants to fit in. The social stress of the ninth through twelfth grade is far worse than the academic stress. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel if you choose to follow it. That light is college.

In college, nobody has the time or effort to spend on judging you. Nobody is going to hunt you down on social media and cyberbully you. If you're hesitant to go to college because of your experience in high school, don't be. College will be a vastly different experience if you let it. You have the free range to be whoever you want to be without repercussions. You're no longer confined to small classes with a group of people who you're going to see in the hallways all the time. The wonderful thing about college is the diversity in every classroom. Take this as an opportunity to grow and just be who you are.

With the realization of who you are, you need to realize what you want to invest your time in studying. I always knew I wanted to be in the healthcare industry, but I sold myself short. Even in college, I wasn't confident in my academic ability and I didn't think that I could deal with the rigorous coursework of becoming a doctor, so I decided to major in nursing. Throughout the time I spent as nursing major, I always had this uneasiness. I never felt a drive to be a nurse and I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not. However, I thought I wouldn't make it doing pre-med or a biology major. So I spent a year doing nursing courses and prerequisites despite the idea of being a doctor at the back of my mind. Then, I finally had enough.

I knew what I was interested in and I held myself back. I didn't want to fail and embarrass myself by aiming high. This very attitude is something I hope people eliminate from their mindset. Eventually, I took a leap of faith and changed to pre-medicine. Once I did that, I knew that I had to give it my all, so I did. I started studying to the point where I was confident in the material and with each A I got, I started to trust myself more and more. I'm at the point in my life where I'm bursting with ideas and goals and I plan to take on those challenges. It's important to realize all the things you're good at and put faith in your abilities. As humans, we're capable of so much so don't settle. Believe in yourself and give yourself a shot at something great.