By the Horns by Zachary

By the Horns by Zachary - August 2014 Scholarship Essay

Everyone follows a different path. The true challenge is simply finding the correct path that will ultimately lead one to a life of happiness and fulfillment. To me, the most fascinating thing in all of human nature is the potential that lies within each and every individual, and yet, so often goes unrealized. Through my experiences with people from all walks of life, I’ve learned that any one person has the ability to take the world by the horns and accomplish an unlimited amount of astonishing things, and sadly, that very same person could live of an unfortunate life of lethargy and accomplish next to nothing. The potential lies within each and every one of us, and finding a passion for life is the key to unlocking an ability to channel it into tangible success.

Personally, I once lead a life that would most closely resemble the latter of the scenario I just described. I was wistfully and blindly floating through my journey of life with no drive, no determination, no goals, and simply put, no passion. When you’re living this type of life, it’s extremely easy to become attracted to negative vices and other compulsive corruptions in order to distract yourself from the fact that you’re wasting away the potential you were given with a chance of accomplishing something great. Once caught in this vicious cycle, it is sometimes impossible to escape. Luckily for me, I was one of the few that did.

Two years ago, I met the love of my life. She opened my eyes to the world I was missing out on and what true happiness actually felt like. Before meeting her, I had done poorly in school, suffered problems with addiction, and worked at endless, dead-end jobs without any sort of improved future in sight. Since she ignited me with my newfound passion for life, I have learned how to live completely drug-free, and I have spent two years working in the financial industry where I’ve received multiple promotions and found more professional success than I ever have in my life. On top of that, and more generally, I now have a desire to get the most out of life that I possibly can. That being said, I know that furthering my education is a must.

Enrolling back in college has made me the most excited that I’ve been in a very long time. Previously, I only went to school in order to appease other people. Like I alluded to before, lacking any sort of goals for myself left me in a depressed state of indifference that was very detrimental to improving my future. Since I wasn’t going to school for myself, I failed to create a plan that would allow me any sort of academic success. This time around, it is an entirely different story. I have a hunger for knowledge and an urgency to create a future that will allow me to provide for my family and for myself. I now have a proper plan in place and a goal that nothing will keep me from reaching. After spending some time working in the construction industry, and having always had a passion for computers and design, I am majoring in Drafting and Design along with a separate major in General Studies. Within two years, I will receive both degrees. From there, I plan on beginning a career as a mechanical drafter that creates plans for various types of construction designs.

Now that I have matured into a man and developed a true appreciation for life, I thoroughly value the college process and understand what furthering one’s education may provide. With that maturity and understanding comes great regret for the mistakes I’ve made in the past. On the other hand, I refuse to dwell on those mistakes. Life is far too short and precious to do so. Instead, I am simply going to be better. Gone are the days of letting my potential be wasted on an unfulfilling life. Rather, I intend on using every bit of potential I’ve been gifted to take the world by the horns and accomplish astonishing things.