Commitment ~ To Be True to Myself by Steffanie

Commitment ~ To Be True to Myself by Steffanie - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

One of the New Year resolutions that will help me become not just a better student, but also a better person this year is to create a commitment to myself and actually keep it throughout the course of this year, regardless of what happens.

This resolution came to me the other day when a family touring my university’s campus asked me if I had any advice for their upcoming freshman student about college life. I can’t remember my exact words but I’m sure it was one of the generic responses: “study hard,” “apply for all the scholarships,” or “avoid the school food if at all possible.” Looking back, I see now just how stupid my response was. If I could meet that family again I would say this:

You’re going to have a great time. There’s going to be a ton of places to go, people to see, and dates to make. You’re going to learn a lot about yourself, other people, your hopeful career- just, life in general. There’s gonna be all kinds of adventures. College truly is one of the best times of your life…

But…

You have to make a commitment.

You have to make a commitment to not just your major, but to yourself- especially to yourself.

There are going to be times when the world starts to close around you and threaten to consume you and anything else of yours it can claim…but you can’t give up. You dig deep within, talk to your closest of friends, cry in the pillow at night- whatever you have to do to keep moving.

And that’s another thing: moving. You’re going to be moving everywhere- both literally and figuratively. It isn’t one thing just to be moving, though. Many people move, but not everyone moves forward.

This year I’m going to be true to myself and make a personal promise that I will keep pursuing my degree and dreams, no matter what situation life may put me in or what other people may say. I resolve this year to never compromise or to fold on the path to my career and dreams.