Growing Through Change by Nadeen

Growing Through Change by Nadeen - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

Change is a word that sounds simple, yet it can completely reshape a person. For me, change did not come quietly. It came in the form of leaving everything I knew behind and starting a new life in a country that spoke a language I barely understood. When I moved to the United States, I was not just adjusting to a new place—I was learning who I was when everything familiar was taken away. In that difficult moment, I discovered a strength inside myself that I did not know I had.
My first days in an American school were overwhelming. I sat in classrooms where I understood only pieces of what was being said. I knew the answers in my head, but the words would not come out the way I wanted. I was afraid of sounding wrong, of being misunderstood, and of being judged. Sometimes, I went home feeling small and invisible. I missed my old life, my friends, and the comfort of speaking freely in my own language. It felt as if I had lost my voice.
One day, during a class discussion, my teacher asked a question. I knew the answer. My heart was beating fast, and my hands were shaking, but something inside me said, “Try.” I raised my hand and spoke, slowly and imperfectly. My grammar was not perfect, and my pronunciation was not either, but I finished my sentence. Instead of laughing, my classmates listened. My teacher smiled and encouraged me. That small moment changed everything. For the first time, I realized that courage is not about being perfect—it is about being willing to try even when you are afraid.
That was the moment I discovered a new strength in myself: resilience. I learned that I could keep going even when things felt uncomfortable and uncertain. From that day on, I started participating more in class. I began asking questions, even when I was unsure how to phrase them. I started seeing mistakes not as failures, but as steps toward improvement. Each small success made me braver, and each challenge made me stronger.
This new strength influenced my growth in every part of my life. Academically, I became more confident. I no longer stayed silent when I had something to say. I worked harder, studied more, and pushed myself to improve my English every day. Personally, I became more independent. I learned how to adapt, how to face unfamiliar situations, and how to believe in myself even when things felt difficult.
Growing through change has taught me that strength is not something you are born with—it is something you discover when life asks you to be brave. My journey has not been easy, but it has shaped me into someone who does not give up when things get hard. Every challenge I face now reminds me of that first moment when I chose to speak, even though I was afraid. That choice continues to guide me, and it is the reason I am confident that no matter where life takes me next, I have the strength to grow.