Michael, A Friend I Will Never Forget by Tran

Michael, A Friend I Will Never Forget by Tran - October 2019 Scholarship Essay

School grades, SAT and ACT scores, and scholarships are academic goals that people need in order to thrive. They can range from just passing school to making an impact on the world and inspiring people to be like them. However, how do these people get to the pinnacle of their highest status? It all comes to one idea: help. Everybody in their life needs help at some time whether the task is too hard or that person just has a question. My friend, Michael, has helped me throughout my entire life up to this present day and he is still helping me. Coming from the same school and going into the same high school, I was always on the weaker side when it came to academics ranging from math, science, English, etc. Nevertheless, whenever I asked for help he always replied with a simple yes and with that he always challenged me regardless of whether it would be in the summer, was committed to helping me no matter what, or gave motivational support when the day seemed bleak.
Michael was a curious one for many reasons as I grew right beside him: every year jumping from elementary to middle school, Michael seemed to get better and better. Granted, I was frustrated whenever I saw that he had gotten the perfect grades. After third grade, I realized that I needed to grit my teeth and push through school with an aptitude for success; going through endless nights of studying for a test, sacrificing whatever free time I had for asking questions toward Michael, and overall break the barriers that I had desperately wanted. I was in a dark place during eighth grade and I started to see how my life was changing: beginning to go to high school, stressing how every day was getting harder, and realizing how I had limits. I couldn’t get the grades I wanted, those five or six hours of studying had only gotten me to a B minus, I was frightened and nervous. Every time my papers were graded: I hid them, threw them away, and grabbed my shirt in pain and agony as every minute that I had studied, had gone to waste. I asked for help, one last time, to Michael on voice call. I was crying but, he did something that was unique. He challenged me on a math question. At first, I was bewildered asking why would he do this, he wanted me to keep pushing forward and to succeed. That one phone call was all I needed to get back and studying once again: my grades were gradually increasing each year, I asked for help less often, and overall I thanked Michael. It may not seem like much, but I owed Michael so much that day.
At this level, it seems that Michael is an ordinary friend, however, there is a reason why I look up to him. During summer, everyone is playing, having fun, and spending time with their family. Of course, like the person I am, I was studying and asking Michael during summer which seemed like a bad idea at the time. As he was drowsily waking up and taking his Snoopy pad in order to write out the problem, he helped me once more. At this point, I realized his dedication and willingness to not give up on me. I mean who wakes up at eight o’clock in the morning during summer on a Saturday? This led me to ask this question, “Why are you helping me?”, as a devoted person he just answered with a simple, “Because you need help.” Throughout life, it is hard to meet these kinds of people, people who wake up during unreasonable hours to help with one simple problem; however, these are the people that shape the person who they are influencing.
Undoubtedly, words carry a sentimental feeling that deeply impacts a person. It may change their life completely or may just seem like a simple comment from a person. To me, Michael’s words changed me completely; his words carried me when I felt that I was useless. His words rebuilt the character that I was previously and he made me understand to stop being so hard on myself. Frankly, I am still hard on myself but never had his words brought me down or disconnected the only hope that I was holding onto. No, Michael's voice acted as my motivation, a motivation that formed me to this day and helped me endure through some of the toughest moments of my life. Never before have I felt so vulnerable, but through Michael’s words and actions, it made me look at myself in a positive way.
Indeed, Michael has done countless things and has been an amazing leader. However, it doesn’t take away from the fact that he was a leader. A leader whose attributes light the path in which I was struggling through. A leader who brought the relief that I so desperately wanted. He wasn’t just a friend, he was a mentor that I looked up to every day. Michael inspired me academically and encouraged me success through arduous obstacles, dedication to helping, and a drive to encouragement.