Don't Hate Yourself by William

Don't Hate Yourself by William - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

Dear Will,

As I write this from a place one step closer to our dream, I want to say congratulations. Your older, slower, quieter self is moving to Los Angeles in pursuit of our dream. Although not where we plan to be when everything is finished, it's a step in the right direction.

I wanted to throw this into the time capsule for you, not only to tell you where you're headed, but to teach you a lesson I wish we had heard sooner: Don't hate yourself. Don't do anything that will make you hate yourself. Don't do anything that will make you hate yourself the next day. Those nights distracted, worrying about impressing others, you will end up hating yourself for the time you've wasted. Instead, steady the course and continue working on writing and filmmaking.

Although some of life's "canon events" will come, never forget to establish routines to get better each day. As of now, I read, write, and study film every day. Preparing for the move to Los Angeles, I still hear coaches yelling, "If you're not practicing, somebody else is". Yeah, that phrase STILL echoes. Continue taking the small steps for self-improvement because they add up in the long run. Don’t get caught up in fast living, as social media will force-feed down your throat. If you become enamored with it, you’ll try to follow, and that will lead down a path of decisions that you’ll hate yourself the next day.

But again, don't hate yourself now, or ever. Even with this warning and newly given advice, you're going to come up short. Everyone does. It's what you do afterward. Never dwell on the past, for you will miss the present. And for that, you will hate yourself. Remember what I said. Don't skip out on experiences that you'll end up hating yourself the next day. Spend time with loved ones because your time with them is limited. Stay around supportive people who push you to be better, because your drive is unquenchable. Continue being you.

Sincerely,

Will