Personal Routine by Maurice

Personal Routine by Maurice - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

When I first moved out on my own, from the warm tropical climate to the brutal Midwest, cold life turned into a soul crushing grind. Every day blurred into wake, work, eat, sleep and repeat leaving me exhausted and hollow. I would bolt awake in panic, rush to my aviation job, collapse home just to mumble a prayer before crashing. No joy, no breath, just survival. Frustration built as depression crept in, I felt trapped, snapping at colleges, dreading mornings, questioning if I would ever escape the monotony.

In 2017, rock bottom hit. A deep funk forced me to try anything, new experiences, fresh perspectives. That is when I learned mindfulness practices and recommitting to church which unlocked real change. I learned of distressing tools, rebuilt self-worth,faith and discovered morning routines as my game changer. Like charging a phone’s battery this ritual fueled me to face chaos proactively, not just react.

My routine starts with Bible reading, aloud affirmations, quiet reflection capped by gospel music. It took trial and error, starting small with silence and one affirmation “God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.” Morning transformed. No more panic, I gained control, approaching work calmly instead of frazzled. Bit by bit depression lifted, anger faded, I rediscovered my jovial self, eager for people again.

This emotional pivot empowered my boldest leap, quitting aviation for Emerson’s BFA in Comedic Arts. As a non-traditional student my routine carried me through the initial chaos but campus life tests them, college students bustle and steal quiet moments. Still I adapt shorter affirmations, gospel music at lunch, early morning prayers on the go. These tweaks throughout the week maintain my inner strength, letting me respond with power over fear’s pull.

Life’s shifts demand flexibility, but I am still learning, executing and how to execute the routine or pieces of it and better days follow. From frozen despair to purposeful joy, this practice turned fruition into fuel proving resilience wins.