Pride by Lisa

Pride by Lisa - July 2017 Scholarship Essay

If I were to present a TED talk, I would speak about the topic of self-pride. Some may agree that it's a personal feeling of reward, or a feeling caused by an accomplishment. Meanwhile, others may say that it's selfish and leads to arrogance. My experience with self-pride has effected me in both positive and negative ways. But in the end, I wouldn't trade that bittersweet moment for anything.

From school and out of school activities, we all face obstacles that we often have to hurdle over. I can remember the first A honor roll that I received. In my hands, was more than a certificate with my name on it, it was proof of my hard work. I felt this feeling inside of me that almost felt like adrenaline, but it was actually the feeling of inspiration. This event made me continue my hard work throughout school. Although, I faced many low points throughout my educational career. That feeling of motivation would plummet and seem to disappear. After a stressful and exhausting school year, I had accumulated a GPA of 3.9. I felt that feeling of inspiration return but this time, it was different. The feeling I had was stronger, it was the feeling of enjoyment. That feeling can be compared to this quote; “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do” (Steve Jobs).

If I were to present a TED talk, I would speak about the topic of self-pride because it teaches everyone about self confidence. In a world of constant competition, we forget to stop and appreciate all of the gifts that we have been carrying along with us. Not just the materialistic items, but rather the items that touch our hearts. Friendships, family, and those who we don’t even know the names of. Sometimes we think that self-pride should be avoided, but in reality, it is something we should pay attention to. It helps us recognize our value and worth, something that is very present but not often recognized by ourselves.

If you were to take in anything from this essay, I want you to remember this: It's important to search for a goal, but finding a goal isn't the final product. It's the exploring and the process that benefits you the most. It's learning to overcome obstacles and challenges that come unexpectedly in life. Self-pride is to move forward with confidence without doubt. It can be time-consuming and difficult to achieve. It may seem to disappear at overwhelming emotional moments, but never lost. It's about finding your weaknesses and making them stronger, but in the end, self-pride is engulfing yourself with success and happiness.