What Do You Hear? by Carter

What Do You Hear? by Carter - August 2026 Scholarship Essay

One time I really had to learn from feedback was when I played sports in high school. I played multiple sports, so I was used to getting advice and criticism from my coaches. Sometimes, they would tell me that I needed to change something or work on a certain part of my game. At first, it was not always easy to hear because I felt like I was already giving my best. I would sometimes get frustrated because I felt like I was doing everything I could.

As I got older, I started to understand that feedback was not someone telling me that I was bad at something. They were trying to help me get better. I learned to listen instead of immediately getting upset or taking it personally. Even when I did not completely agree with the feedback, I could still take something from it and use it to improve. I also learned that making mistakes does not mean you failed. It gives you something to learn from.

That lesson has stayed with me outside of sports. As I get ready for college, I know I am going to have people give me feedback on my work, especially since I will be studying Interior Architecture and Design. I know not everyone is going to love every idea or project I create, and that is okay. I want to be able to listen to what people have to say and use their advice to make my work better instead of taking it personally.

Overall, learning how to accept feedback has helped me become more open-minded. It taught me that I do not have to be perfect at everything right away. I can make mistakes, listen to others, learn from them, and keep moving forward. I think that mindset will help me not only in college but also in my future career.