What must change? by Amauri

What must change? by Amauri - July 2026 Scholarship Essay

In high school I took a physics class, and between the second and third quarters, I started struggling because I didn't understand certain equations and certain topics, and that overwhelmed me. A hard topic for me was always kinematics. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't grasp how the formulas connected to real-world scenarios we were studying. My grades slipped to C's and D's, and failing exams became a frustrating reality. I began to believe that I simply wasn't built for physics, but I refused to give up.

So instead of sitting around and living with bad grades, I decided to get a tutor. She didn't just teach me physics formulas; she taught me how to completely revamp my approach of studying. With her help, I developed in-depth note-taking skills that allowed me to break down my professor's lectures into more manageable concepts. She also showed me more effective ways to study when an exam is approaching. With these new skills, my comprehension soared, and I finally was able to pass my physics exams with confidence.

Ultimately, overcoming this struggle completely transformed my critical thinking skills. I realized science isn't just about memorizing facts; it is about curiosity and problem-solving. I became more open-minded to researching experiments, and when I get challenged with science, I ask myself 3 questions: How can I solve this? What needs to change? And why if it needs to be changed? I'm moving into my college journey with a better thinking mindset on how to solve any problem that arises. Physics taught me to look at obstacles from different directions, and I know I am fully prepared to tackle any academic challenge that arises.