Growth by Nathaly

Growth by Nathaly - August 2014 Scholarship Essay

During our lifetime, we don’t always achieve what we want. Failure is imminent, how we handle it, shapes our path through life. We can either give up or grow from it. I decide to do the latter.

It was a Monday, I was driving home with my dad and we stopped to pick up the mail. When I pulled the letters out of the box, I saw an envelope addressed to me, sent from the University of Texas at Austin. I had applied as a transfer student and I nervously waited for weeks to hear their response. I didn't need to open the letter to know I was not accepted, it was a little envelope, I knew what it meant.

To be fair, I deserved that result. The only reason I wanted to transfer to Austin was due to my previous school, where I struggled constantly. I stayed there for two years, and because it was in Guadalajara, Mexico, a city miles away from my hometown; my new found independence made me put school in the back seat. When I tried to catch up, I couldn't handle it. Coming back to El Paso was a failure in my eyes, however when UT Austin rejected me, I had no choice but to stay.

Fast forward to the present, I’m glad I’m here. My two years in Guadalajara helped me realize how amazing my hometown is, not everyone has the privilege to live in a border town where one can experience two countries at once. I appreciate the sacrifices my parents made for me; my relationship with them has improved enormously. The wonderful friendships I've made over time, showed me how important is to keep good people around. Life is a team effort, surrounding ourselves with people who inspire and help us grow, is extremely important. Ambition is contagious as is mediocrity.

The most important lesson I learned was perspective. I know when to step back and look at the bigger picture, there are negative aspects in life but dwelling in them is not an option. Moving on concentrating on the positive is hard, but not impossible. I am aware that my actions have greater consequences, and when I don’t get what I want, it’s not the end of the world. I can change the rules as I go.