Belief by Keren

Belief by Keren - May 2014 Scholarship Essay

About 6 months ago, I began my journey towards applying for my dream college, The University of San Francisco, and also for an Army ROTC Scholarship. I was lucky enough to have someone help and mentor me throughout the whole process, my JROTC instructor, who said something to me so constantly that it will never leave my mind.

I was a person with the most self-doubt--I questioned my ability to even complete the applications and every mistake I made along the way seemed to discourage me even more. Every day, I would show up to class and my instructor, Colonel Gose, would ask, "How's it coming along?" I knew he was talking about the applications and I would mumble, "Umm, okay." It wasn't going okay, I was worried and stressed out behind the fact that I had talked myself into thinking I would not get accepted or win any scholarship. He then said something that I would hear every single day from that point and on, "You have to believe in yourself. You win half the battle by knowing you can do it." I went home that day and received a text message that said, "Believe, believe, believe!" I began to say it out loud, as silly as it may sound, and I had become my own motivator.

SATs, ACTs, and physical tests all came my way really quickly and I knew I could not approach them "shyly". I studied and worked hard to receive more than average scores, but more importantly, when it came time to take the tests, I knew I was going to do well. I, who was always so unsure of how much I could achieve, truly believed in myself. March then rolled around, and I remember standing really still in the middle of my living room; I held 1 envelope in my hand, address said "University of San Francisco". The first thing I did was shake every negative thought from my mind and I began opening it. I read out loud to let my anxious parents in on the news, and when I was done I looked up to see two smiling faces. I had done it. The college I wanted so badly to attend had accepted me and what I felt on that day is something no one can ever take away from me--in my heart, I felt extremely proud and accomplished.

About 1 month later, I received the news about the ROTC scholarship, and even though I had built some serious self confidence, little bits of doubt would sneak in but Colonel Gose always seemed to be around at the right times to deliver his famous "Believe in yourself" Speech. I was awarded a 3-year full ride Army ROTC scholarship to attend The University of San Francisco and today, I stand excited and eager to attend USF in the fall, but even more excited to graduate as a 2nd Lieutenant Army Nurse in the Spring of 2018.

I can honestly say that I heard Colonel Gose's speech about 10 times throughout the whole application process; however, he never stopped believing in me. Seeing how someone can have such confidence in me, it seemed foolish to not believe in myself. So I did, and the things I accomplished would have never been done if my instructor hadn't repeated himself as much as he did and they surely wouldn't have happened if I wouldn't have told myself, "You can do this."