My Academic Failure by Katrina

My Academic Failure by Katrina - August 2014 Scholarship Essay

When the topic of failure is discussed, many try to hide their own faults. To each person failure may seem different. Each person rates their own life experiences on a different scale; to some failure is not doing well on a test, for others it is never finishing college. While many individuals view failure as something to be shameful of, the truth is that without failure how could one learn how to grow, to learn, or to succeed. Failure is the basis of many inventions, discoveries, and achievements. The failures that an individual faces throughout life help form their own life as well as the lives of others around them.

In my life, one of my “greatest” failures occurred in my education. I was raised in a family that encouraged education. Even though my father never graduated from college, he always encouraged my siblings and me to do well in school so that one day we could attend college. My parents sent us to private schools to prepare us to do well in the future, and they sacrificed so that we could continue attending private school until I was in high school. My mother also sacrificed her career so that she could homeschool us at different points in my life. They evaluated our education every year to make sure that we were in the best place possible to allow us the opportunity to succeed.

After attending private school for a number of years, my parents knew my brother and I were not challenged enough. After reviewing my brother’s PSAT scores they decided that they had to research other educational paths. They found a dual enrollment program at the local college and had my brother tested. He tested so well that he dropped out of high school to attend college. He received his diploma later through the state of Maryland.

I saw my brother’s educational path as motivating and encouraging. At that point I knew I wanted to be an Occupational Therapist, and that I would have to attend school for a long time. I made a goal to start college when I was sixteen, so that I could graduate early. Even while I was homeschooled I found myself unchallenged by the content I was studying. My mother saw I was unmotivated and took me to be tested at the college when I was fifteen. I dropped out of high school and enrolled in the local college a month before my sixteenth birthday. There were many individuals that told my parents that they ruined my college career and that my brother and I were going to fail. This only motivated me to do my best and prove them wrong.

As a college student, I started working a job in retail so that I could pay half of my school bill. By the time I was seventeen, I was working two jobs as well as going to school full time. I was a 4.0 student, and enjoyed all my classes. It was only in the last year that my GPA dropped to a 3.85. I was accepted into Virginia Commonwealth University for the fall of 2014, as well as being accepted into their honors college.

While many may see my “failure” to complete high school a motivational story, or the best plan for my education, looking back I realize I took a hard path. My whole family was affected by my decision. Although my parents encouraged me to drop out, I realize the sacrifices they have made to help me attend college. Since I received my high school diploma through the state of Maryland, I never took my PSATs or SATs. This has made me ineligible for many scholarship opportunities that could have reduced the amount of money needed to pay for my education. I have many former classmates that have received scholarships based on their test scores, and this has allowed them to focus on their education, as well as reducing the stress put on their families. My decision has also affected my personal life. I have lost many friendships over my decision because I was no longer in the same group. There were many individuals that felt I was trying to compete with them, and there were others who I no longer shared common interests with.

Looking back I made the best decision possible with the information I had at the time, but there are times that I wonder what my life would be life if I had stayed a “normal” high school student. My family has had to sacrifice to allow me to attend college early. It has affected their relationships with friends and family. It has also affected my relationships with others. Seeing all that I have gone through in the last two years, I see the “failure” as not only a downfall in my academic career, but also a motivation and encouragement to be better than I thought I could be. Every decision has a silver lining, and I have seen and accepted the silver lining in my failure. My failure has allowed me to realize I don’t need others to make me who I am, and I don’t have to live up to their expectations. My future is my decision, and it is up to me to become who I want to be in the future.