My Ikigai by Laylee

My Ikigai by Laylee - August 2024 Scholarship Essay

A few years ago, I read a quote talking about fulfillment in life and the author used the term “ikigai,” which is Japanese for reason for being and living. I have always been fascinated by the study of science, especially the wonders of how our intricate organs work tirelessly to keep us alive every day.

There have been many moments in my life where I might be able to pinpoint and call inspirations but in the end, there is not one thing that keeps me going, but rather a culmination of little things. I still remember the first time I dissected an organism in anatomy class, a fetal pig, and the spark that went off within me and echoed throughout my entire being, but nothing compares to the first time I had the opportunity to visit a gross anatomy lab.

Throughout one’s life, especially growing up, one often has a multitude of individuals telling them advice about life, explaining that “life is short” and “stop and smell the roses along the way,” and while these are impactful, the impact truly hits when you are standing in a gross anatomy lab, looking at what you perceive your future to be, and you remember that this is it. This is life. It hit me like a train wreck and while a tear gently fell down my face while processing what I had just seen, this experience only further motivated me and showed me the importance of preserving health, and helping others do the same—this was my purpose, my reason, my “ikigai”.

In order to achieve my "ikigai", I know that my next significant academic goal is to be accepted into a university that will set me on the path to achieving my aspirations and future career. With my passion in hand, self-motivation within, and the power of the written word, I hope to be able to earn a college education that gets me where I need to be, without the burden of heavy student loans.