Change it beauty itself by Alicia

Change it beauty itself by Alicia - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

“Tienes que ser valiente, Celestin.” Change is often considered a blessing in disguise - like fate working in its own mysterious ways to help us grow through unexpected events or interactions with certain people. For a long time, I viewed change as something destructive. I wondered why something painful had to happen to create a beautiful ending.
During my childhood, I was raised by two wonderful people – my grandparents – while my father was away. It was a household filled with love and as a child, I never saw any difference in my family. To me, our little family was sanctuary, a bit chaotic in its own way.
When I turned 14, everything changed. My grandparent’ relationship became unstable, and their anger could no ended longer be contained.  I remember the day vividly. My cousins came over and waited outside. Usually, my grandma opened the gate, but this time it was only my grandpa. My brother asked for the key, but he refused. We called my grandma, and she was furious. She up calling the police. After hearing both sides, the officer suggested they take a break from each other to avoid further conflict. I felt like a broken dam, ready to collapse.
As my grandpa packed his bags and said goodbye, days turned into months, and months into years. Nothing was ever the same. One Sunday Morning, while my dad was in town, he told us our stepmom may be coming to the United States if she got approved for her visa. My grandma let us know that if my stepmother came, she would leave, so it could only be the four of us as a family. Her words struck a nerve; they were a painful reminder of unresolved trauma.
During my sophomore year, the day finally came. My grandma was picking me up from work and said, “Your stepmom is already in the house.”  I felt afraid, but I knew I had to face it. When I walked in, I wanted to go straight to my room, but we made eye contact. She hugged me, but I didn’t hug her back. One late afternoon, my dad invited me to play dominoes with them. I agreed because I knew my dad would only be here for a few days. As I passed my grandma’s old blue room – now empty and waiting to be redecorated for Kelsy – I felt a surge of anger. I blamed her for my family’s separation.
One day, while my dad was out of town, I decided to talk to her. After calming down, I realized I had judged her unfairly simply because she represented the unknown. Our conversation changed everything.
It has been a bittersweet year without my grandma in the house. I still hold onto the memories, but I have learned how to carry them with me as I create new memories with my small family of four. I have grown closer to Kelsy than I ever imagined. She has taught me so much – how to cook, how to embrace parts of her Colombian culture, and even helped me become more fluent in Spanish. Above all, Kelsy has given me the words I will never forget: “Tienes que ser valiente, Celestin,” which means “You need to be brave, Celestin, no matter what comes your way.”
I carry these words everywhere I go.  I gained someone in my life whom I cherish. She is my blessing in disguise. This was the first change in my life. I took the first step with fear and courage, and now I embrace everything life brings, precious or painful, knowing it all leads me toward my own beautiful ending, but more importantly to new beginnings.