“There’s Always Someone Working Harder Than You” by Jurie

“There’s Always Someone Working Harder Than You” by Jurie - October 2013 Scholarship Essay

When I was eight years old, I remember yearning to be like every kid my age. I was just at the brink where school truly started, and where sports were starting to get competitive. When I decided to play softball, I was ecstatic. All my friends were on my team, and I enjoyed socializing and being part of a sport. I had natural ability, and this became very apparent to my dad. So one day, I remember him having a serious talk with me. Of course, I was young, but I’ll never forget the words he said that still reminisce in my mind to this very day: “There’s always someone working harder than you.” At first, I was taken aback by how callous it was, but from that day on, I opened my eyes and I started my road to success. Little did I know the adversity I’d soon have to overcome in my social life as well as in my relationship with my dad.
When in the sixth grade, it was fair to say I was a well-rounded individual. I received all A’s in every class since the day I started school, and I played on a successful, competitive softball team. While my peers were out living it up (being kids), I spent the majority of my time studying or practicing. I seldom had much time to hang out with my friends, which made me feel so deprived and bitter at home. The relationship I shared with my dad was becoming very strained since he always pushed me. I cannot even calculate the countless parties and social get togethers I missed because of sports and studies. My dad would take me out to the backyard and pitch me batting practice, throw with me, help me with my golf form, and demonstrate drills for me. When I wallowed in my self-pity my dad would remind me, “There is always someone working harder than you.” We always got into arguments because of how hard he pushed me. We never really talked in depth about anything except for sports, which made me upset, because all my friends were fairly close to their dads.
The next four years flew by, and I continued to work hard. My dad’s few words of wisdom still race through my thoughts; especially during competition. I have become a true competitor. I strive to be the elite in anything and everything I do. I finally realize his blunt words while I was younger actually molded me into a successful person so far. I have received numerous awards that recognize my immaculate work ethic in athletics and academics. My dad still works with me and pushes me today. We have our fights every now and then, but looking at it now, if my dad never sat me down and told me how it really was when I was younger, I have no idea where I would be now. I am proud to be a 4.2 GPA student, top 10% of my class, and last year names Female Athlete of the Year! I also recently verbaled to University of Pennsylvania to play softball in college!
I’m not a touchy person, but I want to say I’m so blessed to have such a caring dad. No matter what situation I’ve been through in life, he has always been there supporting me. All of my dad’s tough love is really the reason behind my current success. Whenever I feel like I am being lazy, I always remember those few words he tells me, “There is always someone working harder than you.” If he ever reads this one day, I hope he knows I am so grateful for his dedication and for all of the times he has taken me to my games and practices and the hundreds of hours he could have been doing other, more productive things. He could’ve been working and with his friends, but he chose to work with me instead. He may not be the most understanding or the most loving, but truthfully, I’ve heard him say he was proud of me; which was more rewarding to me out of any award on paper. I continue to work hard now for my future and to keep making him and myself proud.