From Setback to Success by Wadiah

From Setback to Success by Wadiah - July 2021 Scholarship Essay

Skilled leaders can bring people together and overcome all odds to achieve a goal—and I believe I have done just that as the secretary for my graduating class in high school and the Makeup/Costume Crew Head in theater. As class secretary, my responsibilities entailed organizing meetings, facilitating communication between the officers and sponsors, and helping fundraise $15,000 for the class. The most significant challenge I encountered as secretary was when our prospective prom venue went bankrupt. After personally confirming meetings with six venues, we fell in love with one that was ideal in size and price. After months of finalization, we discovered that the particular chain we committed to was filing for bankruptcy and would not host our prom. Notwithstanding the setback, I researched alternative venues until the officer team settled on another location that was just as suitable for our class. A part of my campaign for class officer was “to lead the class through a memorable high school experience” and although COVID-19 disarranged our plans for prom, I comprehensively made good on that promise.

Additionally, I was a crew head for four shows in theater due to my inclination for stage makeup. In my leadership, I maintained communication with directors and managed the creation of makeup designs—also earning the title of honor thespian by committing 600+ hours of work to theater. By collaborating with the Costume Crew, the demanding task of transforming actors into their characters was expedited—that was, until the Costume Crew Head abruptly dropped out of the show.

We needed a replacement. It was the end of my junior year; I had AP Exams, the SAT, and rigorous courses to focus on, but what I learned from those arguments at home is that standing by and letting issues become hopeless situations is never the answer. Confident that I could balance academics and extracurriculars, I stepped up. I was familiar with the demanding nature of being a crew head, which includes staying after school daily and overseeing the creation of character designs; leading two crews would mean doubling my responsibilities. I accepted the challenge. I managed by rationing time for every aspect of my life—and although this seemed impossible at times, I ultimately led the two crews to a unified, unique, and unforgettable show, all the while growing as a leader. With these experiences under my belt, I learned that challenging circumstances will arise no matter what—but with determination, dedication, and drive, success is imminent.