Failure is NEVER an Option by Marissa

Failure is NEVER an Option by Marissa - February 2017 Scholarship Essay

Some might view failure as an incident that defines their character as a whole. However, failure is an obstacle in life that can either show a possibility of two things: how resilient you are and how much will you have in yourself.
Failure in my life has happened on many occurrences, but I have evolved into a wiser person because of those experiences. Specifically, when I was 8th grade, I was trying out for my middle school team. I had been a cheerleader for 5 years previous. Prior to the tryout, I prepared for weeks. I worked on my jumps, motions, and facials. When the week of tryout came, I was worried that I wasn't good enough because there were so many girls. Regardless of my vast amount of experience and preparation, I still doubted myself and skills. In fact, even when other girls who were trying out told me, "I was already on the team" or "Marissa, the coaches have to put you on the team", I was still nervous because I had to be. I knew that I still had to earn my spot, because even though you were a cheerleader before didn't mean that you were automatically on the team. So as tryouts concluded, later that day we would know the results. That day, I was roller coaster of emotions, elated then wistful, ecstatic then doubtful, but as the results were released, I kept telling myself, “You're a hard worker and you gave your all during the tryout ". Unfortunately, I didn't make the team. At that instant and for weeks to follow, I had these recurring thoughts, "If I can't make a middle school, I can't even make a high school team" or "How come my best wasn't good enough". After all my self-sulking and the countless amount of people telling me, "It's okay Marissa", I finally decided to stop feeling bad for myself and started preparing myself for my next goal, which was to make the high school cheer team.
For the next several months following tryout, I decided to train myself for the high school tryouts. To make sure that I would never feel that dejected in my life ever again, the first thing I needed to do was to ask what I needed to improve on to make sure I didn't make the same mistakes. I asked the middle school cheer coach her positive feedback and criticism about my performance at the tryout and moved on from there. I then enrolled into tumbling class, which helped me on my tumbling, jumps, and motions skills. I went there 2-3 times a week and even though I was working on my cheerleading skills, the coaches there inevitably helped me build and strengthen my self-esteem and confidence.
When the tryouts began, I was anxious but as they proceeded I became more comfortable in my body and my skills. During the tryout, I remember there was individual section and I showcased the coaches a simple toe touch. The reaction on their faces was of astonishment and awe. At that moment, I knew, regardless of the results, I was proud of my hard work and perseverance.
As the tryout concluded, I ended up becoming a high school cheerleader. I was so overcome with joy that I began to cry. That tryout was only a stepping stone because I ended up becoming a 4-year varsity cheerleader, and I also became a peer leader, secretary of my class for 4 years and part of countless service organizations. That confidence continued into my college search, and allowed me to get into 4 of 5 colleges that I applied to; one being Mercer University, the college that is now my home.
From that tryout, I could've let that failure define me as an individual and let me think less of myself, but with support of my friends, family, and coaches, I not only succeeded as cheerleader but as a person, and I also built qualities that I will carry for the rest of my life.