Confidence is Built by Alana

Confidence is Built by Alana - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

Golf has and continues to shape every aspect of my life. It's been a part of me since the age of seven. Gradually becoming a vessel through which I learned discipline, integrity, leadership, and drive. Teaching me how to hold my own when no one else is around, trust in preparation, and lead with not only absolute integrity but also intention. Through experiences such as hitting the HOPE Tee shot 2024, where, from an onlooker's view, they only saw the tee shot. But behind the scenes, months of preparation, essays, tournaments, and interviews with top business executives ensued. All of that led me to  that 30-second shot. In addition, attending the LPGA Leadership academy in Washington State in 2021, where I learned invaluable leadership skills. These experiences helped shape my personal, academic, and professional goals. and gave me the skills to carve the path I am working towards.

Ever since the age of seven, golf drew me in. Known as a game of inches, golf requires a lot of practice. To have quality practice, you have to set goals, whether target drills on the range to dial in distance and direction, or putting drills such as practicing the start line, speed, and/or reading the breaks. While these practice drills seem minute, they all spill into a giant bucket of progress. Golf is more than a sport; it's a test of character, Grit, and the ability to set and achieve goals, trusting in your preparation but also constantly acknowledging that true success lies not in a single achievement but in the relentless commitment to get a little better each day. Through setting and achieving smaller goals, developing resilience, and maintaining focus despite setbacks, I've learned that the lessons from the course extend far beyond just golf.

Hitting the Hope tee shot in 2024 was a realization that I could truly accomplish anything I set my mind to. because standing on the 1st tee box of a major tournament is not for the weak. The pressure is tense, and I truly had to trust in y training and preparation not only for the shot but all the measures afterwards. Learning to advocate for myself in a professional setting at the age of 16 is not something many people can do. But I believed in myself and prepared so I could have that confidence. Confidence is built by going though the fire and coming out victorious on the other side.