Adjustment at my own will by Blanca

Adjustment at my own will by Blanca - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

Currently being 17, I have had unforgettable memories, joyful memories, sorrowful memories, and as a number was being added to my age, I also had self-realization memories. Realization struck like a bolt of lightning: there would be a day when I would have to leave home. Home was never about the 4 walls that provided me with shelter, but the people I was constantly surrounded by, which provided me comfort. The people I saw every day would then be people I could only visit. This grounded my decision and the universities I would later apply to. I finalized my train of thought and decided that community college was the only way to go. This was my freshman year of high school. Towards the end of my sophomore year, I was given the opportunity to study abroad at a prestigious boarding school in India with no costs because the school would completely fund the trip. I firmly believed that this was a long shot to take, but I took it. I applied, but there wasn't one day that passed that I didn't cry because, although there was a small percentage that I would be selected, that small percentage frightened me.
I was able to make it to the interview part of the selection process. The eye bags under my eyes were unreal. I was sleep deprived, full of emotions, and worried all the time. Everything was weakening me mentally, and I felt more than unprepared for the interview. Now that I had made it that far into the selection process, I was more uneasy about the fact that I would be selected for the interview than not being selected. If I were selected, I would get a sense of college that I never wanted to experience. 2 months away from people I knew like the palm of my hands was the same as torture to me. Ultimately, this led to a countless number of times I found myself panicking. The interview date was approaching, and I had multiple flashcards with me at all times so that when any free time was available, I could take the time to memorize them. 
The day before the interview, I was a nervous wreck. I felt weak at my knees, and eventually, my parents noticed. They told me one simple thing, “If you don't want to go, you don't have to”. They were right. I wasn't being forced to do anything. Everything I did, I did it at my own will, so why was I putting myself through this? Self-realization was truly at its peak. I knew that deep down I did want to go, I wanted to travel, I wanted my parents to feel proud because their daughter could study abroad, and they wouldn't pay a dime. I craved the feeling of accomplishment. The flashcards I had memorized were no longer of good use because I knew that whatever questions were asked, I could answer with pride, confidence, and a smile on my face. 
During my interview, they asked, “Will your emotions of leaving your family stop you from excelling on this trip?” I answered confidently, No, because even if those emotions are there fully, partially, or not there at all, it shouldn't determine my limits. I can now proudly say that I was selected as one of the 4 students to study abroad. Adjusting to everyone was different, but it was doable. Those two months were two of the best 2 months of my life. I made a countless number of friends and felt at home once again. I learned how to evolve my way of thinking, and that being in a different setting can't hold me back from excellence, but instead allows me to improve. I discovered a new version of myself that took time unfolding, but eventually found out how to adjust, which is a new strength of mine.
My growth has been positively influenced by the ability to adjust because I was able to build up the courage to apply to more than 17 colleges, with some being out of state. I have been molded into someone my freshman year self wouldn't recognize at all, and for that, I am proud of myself. I can say that I spent my high school years wisely by building up the courage to prepare myself mentally and physically for college. I know now that I have the strength to be far away from my family and be out of my comfort zone so that the true desire I have for my life can be fulfilled and not be held back because of my fear or inability to adjust to the real world.