Making Mistakes and Taking Risks by Veronica

Making Mistakes and Taking Risks by Veronica - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could give one piece of advice to my past self, it would be to understand that it’s okay to make mistakes and take risks. Growing up, when I started ruminating on a mistake or unknown possibility, my mom used to say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff.” Even back then, I would tell her, “No, it’s not, Mom!” But within a matter of days, more often than not, I had moved on to thinking about something new, and that worry was a thing of the past. But, I sure spent a lot of time thinking about all the things I should or could have done about something that now, I probably don’t even remember.

As more time passes, the more I understand the importance of accepting making mistakes, taking risks, and what my mom meant by “small stuff.” Forgetting my homework was not small when I was in English class in tenth grade. But now, I only know it happened because I wrote it in my journal (clearly, it was not small then). More recently, I bought a bike, but due to the stairs in my apartment, it was incredibly difficult to bring in and out. For a while, I felt it was a mistake to have purchased it; however, I was able to give it to a local family member to share.

Most importantly, I would tell myself that it’s okay to make mistakes and take risks because I need to remind myself of this every day. The further back my experiences are, the less likely I am to dwell on them. In a year, I may re-read this essay to remind myself that all things pass, and ‘don’t sweat the small stuff, because it’s all small stuff.’”