How Ms. Shea Changed My Future by Paige

How Ms. Shea Changed My Future by Paige - March 2023 Scholarship Essay

As I look back on my past four years of high school, and forward to the four (or more!) years of college and higher education I have in front of me, one counselor who made a huge difference always stands out in my experience; Ms. Shea.
Leaving my public middle school and switching to a college -preparatory high school was a jarring change. All of my peers who had come from private, academically-stronger schools handled the transition well, and I felt strongly embarrassed for my struggles. As I went to my school's counseling office for help and advice, I found my past counselors and advisors just telling me to ‘work harder,’ and that ‘I’d get the hang of it soon enough.’ As a result, I only felt a pressure to do better on my own with no support, and felt like a failure as my grades quickly got lower and lower. I finished out my freshman year of high school with poor grades, and no improvement in my confidence or my academic ability at all. As I began my sophomore year of high school, I went in with feelings of anxiety and failure. As my grades had already begun to fall; I was dreading the meeting I had been requested to attend by my new counselor; Ms. Shea. As the day came for our first meeting, I didn’t know how I would explain to her that I was doing my best, and was prepared to feel disappointed in myself and given poor advice.
However, I was met with the complete opposite; Ms. Shea understood and empathized with me, and acknowledged my hard work and desire to succeed. Ms. Shea gave me the motivation and kindness I needed to ask for help and improve in my classes. I slowly but surely became a much better student, and began to excel in my academics. The help I got from Ms. Shea didn’t only help me do better on paper, but it improved my mental state and confidence as well. As I continued the rest of my years in high school, Ms. Shea helped me figure out how to continue to improve and plan my future education. Because of Ms. Shea, I plan to attend college in the fall of 2023, and have an incredibly brighter future ahead of me than what I once had. I know I will be able to take the motivation and confidence my counselor Ms. Shea has taught me and changed the world for the better because of her help!