Never Fear Change by Sabrina

Never Fear Change by Sabrina - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

Rita Levi-Montalcini once said, “Above all, don’t fear difficult moments. The best comes from them.” We all have trying, difficult moments in our lives. Thus, the difference amongst us is not in those moments, but in our response to these moments, our change. We should not fear such obstacles, but embrace them.
My largest obstacle appeared when I was twelve. As my mother made her grand reentry into my life after months of no communication, alone, she told me about her bipolar disorder and three attempted suicides, blaming me for her depressions. Suddenly, I felt unwanted, uninspired, and deprived of her acceptance.
Defeated by this void, I turned to my stepmother for guidance. Our bond prospered in spite of my newfound pessimism, and rather than focusing on my mother’s faults, I began working towards improving the relationships I had with others in my life.
My family and I grew closer. After my mother’s revelation, I didn’t want my younger brother to have the same experience and put his relationship with her at risk. I shielded my brother from the truths I knew he could not handle. Needless to say, family has become a large part of my life, and this mentality extends into my friendships, because I believe the stronger a support system is, the richer the relationships are. Whether as Editor-in-Chief of the Online Newspaper or President of the NHS, I work to establish a familial environment, where all members contribute to a common goal.
By developing close bonds with my teachers, I’ve learned to immerse myself in my studies. Because of them, I constantly push myself beyond what I once considered my limits and explore my academic opportunities, even in my weakest subject areas. Through the influence of my Biology teacher, my previous indifference towards Science transformed into a love for it, fueling my desire to become a part of a new, higher-level Biology class. Though the idea remained daunting, he assured me that my doubts were misplaced and inspired me to believe in myself, just as my teachers believe in me. Whereas I was once struggling to meet others’ expectations, I began to realize I would rather meet my own.
Though these obstacles that we face on a daily basis, academically and personally, may be intimidating and become life altering, the 2016 resolution to keep in mind is to never fear change. Ultimately, we must embrace it.