Say No and Save Time by Radhika

Say No and Save Time by Radhika - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

Whew!!! What a long and mentally grueling day. I was dragging my feet as I moved from lunch break to my next class at school. My head was filled with lists of things to do, projects to complete, dealing with issues between officers of a club that I am part of, etc. The endless texting on my cell phone from friends was driving me nuts. My eyes were dropping off since I stayed up until 2am finishing my work. Every high school senior would go through these issues however I always seem to be surrounded by them.
As my last period ended, my English teacher commented on how wry and tired I looked and I immediately started to unload the stress off my shoulders. She had one simple answer to all my problems. “Oh! You are definitely someone who loves to solve problems, be in charge and obviously a crowd pleaser.” That statement from my teacher hit me hard. I came home with a heavy heart. I broke down while having my afternoon snack in front of my mom who immediately knew something was not right. As I narrated the day’s proceedings, my mom was in agreement with my teacher’s statement. She felt while it is a good habit to help friends in different aspects, one should not get swept away in it. It is important to say NO sometimes and prioritize what is important to you.
Analyzing, my mom and I went back a few years back when I was a coy, silent, and hesitant girl in middle school. We lived in Canada for the most part of my life and suddenly I heard the news that I have to change schools since we were moving to a new city and country. I hated to come out of my comfort zone but had no choice. We moved to Austin, Texas over summer of 2010. With not a single friend at the new school my initial two months in grade 7 was a nightmare. Just when I thought I made a few friends, we moved again to Seattle, Washington in summer 2012. Now, again I was left without a friend in my freshman year at high school. Yes, I was stepping into the formidable high school. My parents encouraged me to join different club activities and in the process I made a lot of different friends. As time went by, unknowingly I overcame my uncertainties and hesitation and became this extravert girl and I started to like her. In the process of making new friends, I started to be very accommodative which ate into my study time. It felt nice to be leader of the pack and lead your friends through their troubles and issues. While my parents cautioned me all the time, I have just started to realize it now more than ever before. There are so many distractions around that it doesn’t take too long to have a setback. Luckily, I am still maintaining my A grade and happy with my study progress but it took me four years of my high school to realize this fact. I still value my friends and their friendship but I now know where to draw the line.
My new year resolution is to put myself first before anyone else and complete my tasks and needs before I try to address others concerns. This would reduce my distractions and help set boundaries for both personal and professional growth. It would help me in the long run as I make my move to join my undergrad studies this fall and also a great time management technique for my future.