Senior Yearbook Quote by Maya

Senior Yearbook Quote by Maya - November 2018 Scholarship Essay

What would your senior yearbook quote be? After being asked this question, it took me a little while to decide what it would be. There are multitudes of quotes that mean something to me and that I cherish, how could I only pick one? Suddenly, it came to me.
As a freshman in high school, I was a shy and quiet girl. I was uncontrollably afraid of being in the center of attention and avoided that at all costs. I was just never the outgoing girl that didn't care about what other people thought. That was until my cross country coach introduced a new quote to me that spoke volumes in my life. It was a quote by Henry Ford that says, "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right."
As a cross country runner, it encouraged me and told me that if I truly believe I can do something, I can and will do it, but if I simply don't believe in myself, than I surely won't accomplish what I wish to accomplish. I saw that work in my life as I started to believe in myself and in my running abilities, I got faster and faster and started to see things change positively. Although, it was not only in cross country but also in basketball and track. I became a better athlete once I just believed. And that lead me to help others do the same. It encouraged me to show others that their lack or evident presence of self-belief is going to make or break them. Furthermore, it translated into my life as a whole. It affected me as a person as I was no longer afraid to stand and present in front of a large group of people. I was no longer terrified of being the center of attention. I was in fact fully confident in myself and in who I was that I could do everything I once dreaded. That quote changed me and what I wish most is for people to know that and to let it change them like it did me.