From Fear of Speaking to Finding My Voice by Victoria

From Fear of Speaking to Finding My Voice by Victoria - May 2026 Scholarship Essay

One challenge I once found intimidating was speaking in English in front of other people. After moving from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States, I had to adjust to a completely new environment while also learning English and overcoming a speech impairment. At the time, even simple classroom participation felt stressful. I worried about saying words incorrectly, being misunderstood, or drawing attention to myself. Because of that fear, I often stayed quiet even when I knew the answer or wanted to contribute.

In elementary and middle school, I viewed communication as something other students seemed to do naturally while I had to work much harder just to feel comfortable speaking. It was frustrating at times because I knew my ideas were stronger than my confidence allowed me to show. I also realized that staying quiet limited my ability to connect with people and fully participate in opportunities around me.

What changed was not one single moment, but a gradual process of pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. Activities like Girl Scouts, service organizations, and school leadership opportunities helped me become more comfortable interacting with others. I learned that confidence is built through practice, not perfection. Instead of focusing on mistakes, I started focusing on progress.

As I grew more confident, I began challenging myself academically as well. I enrolled in dual enrollment classes through USC Lancaster and eventually completed both an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science degree while still in high school. Taking college-level classes forced me to communicate more openly with professors and classmates, which helped me realize I was far more capable than I had once believed.

Today, speaking in English no longer feels intimidating in the way it once did. I still remember how difficult it felt at first, but now communication feels manageable because I learned to trust myself and stop viewing mistakes as failures. That change in mindset affected much more than just my ability to speak confidently. It taught me that growth often happens when you are willing to face discomfort instead of avoiding it.

Looking back, I am grateful for the challenge because it pushed me to become more resilient, adaptable, and confident. It also taught me that many things that seem overwhelming at first can become manageable with patience, persistence, and a willingness to keep trying.