Don't Wait For Life To Come After You by Melani

Don't Wait For Life To Come After You by Melani - March 2019 Scholarship Essay

Dear Future Freshman,

Congrats. You've made it. Gone are the years of preteen drama and friendship disputes. You should be very proud of yourself.

I'd say you've arrived, but that wouldn't be quite true. You still have a lot of learning to do. In fact, I could say the same for myself and anyone else in this world.

If I had to give you one piece of advice, it would be this. And no, it is not for the girls to lose the blue eye-shadow or for the boys to go easy on the cologne. (Though those are both very good ideas. Just saying.)

I would say this: Don't wait for life to come after you. You be the one to go after life.

At first, it may seem like I'm telling you to grow up too fast. I'm not. Stay young while you can, because before you know it your childhood will be only a memory.

What I'm encouraging you to do is not wait around for life to happen. This, right now, is your life. It's happening. So you can either take control of it, or mindlessly float along without a destination.

The choices you make will impact your future. High-school students with ambition, goals, and charisma become adults with the same qualities. You're not going to get anywhere by being a couch potato.

Learn to say yes often. Yes to learning and growing and enjoying life. Be adventurous at least for the fact that you'll have stories to tell when you're elderly.

On the other hand, learn to say no often too. No to bad influences, bad choices, and bad relationships.

Don't wait for life to come after you. Take initiative, and seek opportunities that will grow you and challenge you.

Dream big; believe that the impossible is possible. Branch out of your comfort zone. Befriend people with the same tenacity and fervor for life.

Dear freshman, I'm going to tell you a secret. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life when I was your age. I didn't have a clue.

Do you want to know how I found out? By targeting my passions and talents. I love writing; I love being around people. I love planning and helping with action.

My degree is going to be in Journalism and Mass Communication with an emphasis in public relations. It's a perfect fit for me. You, too, will find your perfect fit.

That's a promise from me to you. Chase fearlessly after life, and you'll end up right where you're supposed to be.