Slow Down - You'are Allowed to Breathe by Cayden

Slow Down - You'are Allowed to Breathe by Cayden - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could speak to my past self, I’d tell them one thing: slow down. You’re allowed to breathe, to be unsure, to take up space without having everything figured out. For the longest time, I believed that urgency equaled success, that the faster I moved, the more I’d achieve. I didn’t realize that sprinting through life meant missing moments that could’ve shaped me, healed me, and taught me to live—not just perform.

I’d go back to the version of me who was thirteen, hunched over a planner color-coded to exhaustion, believing rest was laziness and productivity was proof of worth. I’d whisper that ambition doesn’t mean breaking yourself to build something. Back then, I mistook burnout for growth. I skipped meals to answer emails, chose deadlines over deep conversations, and wore stress like a badge of honor.

If I’d known that reflection breeds resilience, I might’ve approached life with more grace. Slowing down doesn’t mean giving up—it means giving space to understand your why. Over time, I’ve learned to embrace pauses, to celebrate small wins, and to find meaning in the mess. That one shift in mindset reshaped how I approach school, leadership, and even relationships. I’m more grounded. I speak with intention, not just reaction. I can say “no” without guilt and “yes” without fear.

Today, my calendar still hums with activity. But I leave room for joy, for journaling, for moments that remind me I’m more than my résumé. If I could tell my past self just one thing, it’d be this: your worth is not tied to your speed. Slow down. Life isn’t a race—it’s a rhythm, and you deserve to find your flow.