Second Chance by Jordan

Second Chance by Jordan - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

A New Year’s Resolution I have is to become a better me. I know this sounds extremely cliché, but there is a story behind why becoming a better version of myself in 2016 will ultimately help me become a better student.
On December 30th, 2015, I was involved in a car accident while driving down the interstate. I was rear-ended at full speed, and sent into the car in front of me before spinning out and stopping on the side of the highway. It was the most terrifying moment of my entire life. I am ok, and walked away from the accident, which is something that I should not have been able to do considering what had happened. Because of the accident, I no longer have a car (which is what I am most heartbroken about), I have medical bills (which I’ve never had to worry about in my life) and neck and back pain (I feel like I should be 80 years old, not 18). For the first week and a half, I was a hollow shell of myself. I did not want to be around my friends, family, or really do anything that required me to move.
Last week, I had a friend of mine give me some very honest advice. She told me, “You can either dwell on what happened and let it affect you for the following months to come, or you can embrace it as a wake-up call. Everything happens for a reason.” I realized then she was absolutely right. I knew last semester of college, I got good grades and ended with a 4.0, but I really did not put myself out there and join enough clubs or become involved enough with my school. The world is my oyster, and I was treating college like I was forced to be there instead of embracing adulthood and college life.
To become a better version of myself, I am going to join more clubs when I get back to school, and instead of blowing off the girl that invited me to lunch, I am going to accept her invitation and make new friends. Even though I was a good student, I was an unhappy student. By bettering myself and putting myself out there, I will ultimately become a happier student, leading me to do better in school and enjoy my life. You only live once!