Past Self Advice by Shelby

Past Self Advice by Shelby - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I were to write my past self one piece of advice, it would be to trust the timing of your life and not rush into things just to feel ahead. There were many times in my life where I left like I was falling behind expectations, and behind the version of myself I thought I should already be. I constantly looked around at others, comparing where I was to where they were, wondering why I wasn't further along. I thought if I could get to the "next step," I'd finally feel like I was doing life right. But now, With more perspective, I see how wrong I was.

We live in a world that rewards speed. Social media, success stories, and pressure from family or school can make it feel like we need to have everything figured out as quickly as possible. Graduate early. Get the job right away. Move out. Settle down. But life definitely doesn't work in a straight line, and it definitely doesn't follow the same schedule for everyone. Some people reach their goals early, and others take more time and that's okay. Taking longer doesn't mean failing. It often means growing deeper roots.

I wish I could go back and tell my younger self that there's no need to panic when things don't happen as quickly as you except. Life will unfold in its own time, and sometimes what feels like a delay is really a blessing. The friendships that didn't last, the job opportunities that didn't come through, the moment's when everything felt uncertain-those were all part of a process I needed to go through to become who I am today. If everything had happened when I wanted it to, I wouldn't have learned patience, resilience, or how to trust myself.

Rushing can also lead to mistakes. When you force something to happen before you're ready, it usually ends up falling apart later. I've learned that real success isn't about being first. It's about being prepared. Its about doing the hard inner work, even when no one is watching, and learning the lessons that only time and experience can teach. Now I know that moving slowly and intentionally can be a sign of strength, not weakness.

So if I had a chance to sit down with my past self, I'd remind her that she's not behind. I'd tell her to take a breath, focus on what matters most to her, and stop measuring her life against someone else's timeline. I'd tell her to enjoy where she is, be present, and to find peace in knowing that everything will fall into place when it's meant to. Life is not a race, its a journey. And some of the best parts are the ones you never planned.

In the end, trusting the timing of your life doesn't mean giving up control. It means letting go of unrealistic pressure and having faith in your own path. And if I had known that back then, I would've spent a lot less time worrying and a lot more time living.