Never give up! by Paula

Never give up! by Paula - August 2014 Scholarship Essay

In high school, my academic excellence granted me the opportunity to be salutatorian of my graduating class. My ambition and drive motivated me to excel in school. Although I performed well in all of my classes, I was specifically intrigued by math. I really enjoyed the mystery of equations and solving for variables. The course naturally came easy to me and I passed with honors. However, my passion for math soon changed when I took my first upper level math course, calculus, during my first year of college.

Towards the beginning of the semester, I was confident that I understood the material and was certain in my ability to perform exceptionally well. I was attentive in every class, very inquisitive during complex subjects, took great notes, and consistently studied. Despite all of my proactive measures, my efforts were futile because I failed the first exam. I was extremely disappointed, considering all of my preparation and willingness to learn. This math was different compared to the previous math courses I took in high school and college. It was very conceptual, complex, and dense. After the first exam I made a conscious decision that I was not going to fail the next exam. As a result, I religiously visited the math help center and contacted a calculus tutor for individual assistance. I studied after every class, went to the professor’s office hours, and continued to be both persistent and consistent in my efforts. I was absolutely determined to do well on the next test and in the class overall. However, my extended efforts failed to increase my grade in the class and at that point I was in danger of failing.

Given my poor performance in the class, I was incredibly nervous about my grade. The thought of me failing was difficult to accept because I had taken every possible initiative to ensure my success in the class. At this point it was midway through the semester and I had the option of dropping the course. As I pondered dropping the course, I remembered the student I was in High School. I remembered the ability buried deep within myself to excel despite any challenge or obstacle. It was at this moment that I decided that failure or worse yet, giving up would not be an option for me. In my newest attempt to help this situation I met with my professor to discuss the difficulty I was having in the course. Unfortunately, she was very discouraging and bluntly told me that based on my test scores, I was not going to pass. I was hurt that a professor could be so insensitive. This conversation took a negative toll on my attitude towards the class, the professor, and my grade.

After many conversations with supportive family and friends, I decided that I was not going to allow a professor or the difficulties of the course dictate my academic excellence. My two failing test scores and discouraging words from my professor gave me the motivation not to give up. Because I remained persistent in my efforts of studying, asking questions, and seeking help, I ultimately succeeded. As I look back on this moment, I can clearly see how I gained much more than a passing grade, I learned lessons on life, character, and integrity.

This experience helped to mold me into a stronger and more efficient college student. As I matriculated into more difficult classes such as physics, I learned how to take full responsibility for my failures/hardships and learn from them by exploring other avenues and different resources that assisted me in accomplishing my goal. This experience also gave me the opportunity to believe in and motivate myself despite negative circumstances. In comparison with high school where I avoided criticism, this class taught me how to advocate for myself and handle criticism, whether constructive or destructive. Additionally, my confidence in my abilities was increased by my willingness to excel in that class and my drive to persevere through the difficulty of the work. My difficulty in the class was necessary because I needed to understand the importance of transitioning from high school to collegiate level coursework. The lessons I have obtained from this experience have made me stronger and will continue to assist me as I complete my undergraduate career and proceed to future endeavors.