How Being the Best Taught Me To Be The Worst by Angelica

How Being the Best Taught Me To Be The Worst by Angelica - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

My desire to be great at everything taught me to fail.
Most things were always simple. Classes were rarely a struggle, and new skills always came quickly. But standing in a room full of dancers better than me, younger than me, and with fewer years under their belt, shifted my mindset.
It was uncomfortable, strange, and foreign. After all, I was used to rapid success. Academically, this became an obsession for instant perfection–one that began to overtake other parts of my life.
Dancing has been a part of my life for 15 years, with the past two being dedicated to competition. Before joining the team, this sport was purely recreational for me. The classes gave me parts front and center, I knew all the skills, and breezed by, like usual. But this was a dangerous mindset–a mindset of limited growth, of already-achieved ultimate potential.
Two years ago, this was shattered. Joining the competitive team exposed my shortfalls and weaknesses on a stage for everyone to see.
Joining the team as a junior in high school meant I felt severely disadvantaged. I had no experience with competition weekends, and often fell behind during fast-paced choreography sessions. The feeling of not measuring up was constant, and it often discouraged me.
However, as I danced with the extremely talented girls around me, they didn't seem intimidated, but rather, inspired.
The culture in the studio made me want to be better. And for one of the first times, it was a real, utter struggle to reach the level I wanted to be at. But in a way, it made it even more exhilarating.
Seeing the results of weeks of hard work felt better than any easy A ever earned in a class. And soon, by the end of the year, my mindset had shifted.
There was no fulfillment in being the best if I didn’t put in the work to get there. Now, I actively seek out skills I struggle with, I try new things, and ask questions.
That’s not to say that I don’t ever get discouraged. With it being my last season, I’m running on a countdown with only so much time to improve within this community. But even if I end in a place less than perfect, it will have been worth it.
Learning to get over my insecurity meant conquering my shyness, reimagining my mindset, and instilling confidence. It’s also meant finding the joy in struggle and persevering. Because oftentimes, the most fruitful lessons are those we learn the hard way.
This is something I have carried into my academics, and throughout my high school career, I have sought out challenges. Although things may not be as simple anymore, I’m more fulfilled than I was before.