Beyond Judgment, Towards Ones Understanding by Braxton

Beyond Judgment, Towards Ones Understanding by Braxton - October 2026 Scholarship Essay

I questioned the way I learned. I questioned the way I thought. And eventually, I began to question myself. I could understand the material in front of me, yet struggle to finish a test before the clock ran out. Watching other students submit their work while I scrambled to finish mine made me wonder why my best effort never seemed to be enough. Like many students during the pandemic, I struggled to adjust to online learning. Instead of paying attention, I would find myself drawing, making art, or playing games on my iPad. I also felt that one of my teachers was stricter with me than with certain other students, making me question whether I was a good student. My biggest struggle, however, was taking tests. I understood the material but often ran out of time, leaving me anxious and frustrated. My mom noticed my struggles and decided to have me tested for ADHD. As I approached seventh grade, I was diagnosed with mild ADHD, and many of my struggles finally made sense. Although I initially felt insecure about being different, I eventually realized that ADHD did not make me less capable. I began managing my time, setting goals, and learning how I worked best. What started as frustration with myself became curiosity about why people think and learn differently.
My curiosity grew when I began developing my public speaking skills. In seventh grade, I discussed ADHD during my first real oratorical contest. My speech focused on overcoming challenges and remaining optimistic. Preparing for it helped me realize that sharing my experiences could help others feel understood. I also became interested in other learning and developmental differences, including dyslexia, dysgraphia, autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy. I wanted to understand how these conditions influence the way people think, learn, and experience the world. The more I explored these differences, the more I realized that there is no single way to learn or experience life. Psychology became more than the study of the mind and behavior; it became a way to understand people and recognize how the right support can help them grow. My experiences taught me that people can struggle in ways that are not always visible, and that struggling does not mean someone lacks intelligence or potential.
I now want to study psychology because I want to use what I have learned about myself to understand others. In the future, I hope to become a student counselor and help students feel understood instead of overlooked. I want students to know that they can share their experiences without feeling ashamed of what makes them different. My interest in psychology began with one question: Why could I understand the material but struggle to finish my tests on time? What I once saw as a weakness became the beginning of my curiosity about the human mind. I want to keep exploring how people think and learn so I can help students better understand themselves, too. Sometimes, understanding what makes you different is the first step toward discovering what makes you powerful.