Listen to What Others Have to Say by Benjamin

Listen to What Others Have to Say by Benjamin - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

One habit that has made a big difference in my success is that I started to consider other people’s advice. In the past, I was very shut out and did not really listen to what others had to say. I believed that my opinion was the only right opinion, and I did not think I needed help from anyone. Because of this, I would make decisions on my own, even when other people were trying to help me. Looking back, I realize that this mindset held me back and made things harder than they needed to be.
At the time, I thought that listening to others would make me seem weak or unsure of myself. I wanted to prove that I could do everything on my own. However, this often caused me to make mistakes that I could have avoided if I had just listened. It also made me feel alone, because I was not allowing others to support me. I did not realize that the people around me, like my coaches, teachers, friends, and family, were giving advice because they cared about me and wanted me to succeed.
Over time, I started to change. I began to understand that advice is not meant to control you, but to help you grow. I made the decision to start listening more and keeping an open mind. Instead of immediately ignoring advice, I started to think about it and consider how it could help me improve. This was not easy at first, because it meant admitting that I did not know everything. But once I did, I started to see real progress.
For example, when my coaches gave me advice, I began to apply it instead of brushing it off. I noticed that I improved faster and became more confident in my abilities. The same thing happened in school. When teachers gave me feedback, I used it to do better instead of ignoring it. I realized that their advice helped me grow and become stronger, both academically and personally.
Another important change was how I felt emotionally. I no longer felt like I had to do everything alone. I understood that having people support you is a strength, not a weakness. Listening to others helped me build better relationships, because people could see that I respected their opinions. It also helped me become more open-minded and willing to learn new things.
This habit has made a huge difference in my success because it helped me grow as a person. I learned that success is not just about believing in yourself, but also about being willing to learn from others. No one succeeds completely on their own. There are always people along the way who help guide you.
Now, I make it a priority to listen to others and consider their advice. I know that I do not have all the answers, and that is okay. Being open to advice has helped me improve, feel more supported, and become a better version of myself. It is a habit that will continue to help me succeed in the future.