The Evolution of Growth by Corinthian

The Evolution of Growth by Corinthian - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

Over the course of my life, I have had many experiences that have helped me understand more about how life works, experiences that have made me wiser and stronger. I have learned how to appreciate both the rewarding experiences as well as the challenging ones. I understand the reality of feeling like you are living your happiest life at one moment and then suddenly feeling like you have hit rock bottom in a flash. At the age of two, I suffered a significant loss of losing my father. Even though I was very young, I experienced a range of emotions, many of which I could not explain. I wondered why this tragedy attacked my family. Why him? As I grew older, my attitude changed. I became irritable, sad, and a feeling of emptiness engulfed me. I knew I had my mother and my baby sister, but there was a missing piece to our family. At the age of 5, my mother thought of ways to help me cope. She enrolled me in gymnastics classes. I also was afforded the opportunity to talk to a therapist. At this point, a small spark ignited. I enjoyed gymnastics and used my time in class as a quiet way to just release my thoughts. On the other hand, my therapy sessions were not going well.
As the years went by, there were a few things that created more tension and uneasiness. The relatives on my father’s side seemed to grow apart from us, and my mom started dating. In this phase of my life, I exhibited disrespectful behaviors towards my family and friends. Not once did my mother judge me because she knew I was dealing with so many emotions. She was very patient with me. I often had time alone and I began to reflect on what I wanted out of life. I knew at some point I had to change my ways. When I entered my teen years, I was very confused, and I felt that I had hit rock bottom. I isolated myself from everyone, especially my mother and sister. Sitting in my room, sobbing, and asking God why became a daily way of life. Even though I had been seeing a therapist, I felt as if nothing was working. However, I knew I had to find a safe space and get out of the hole I was living in.
I started embracing my loss and turned it into something better. I continued participating in gymnastics because it had become my safe space, and it took my mind off of my problems. I became happier, more motivated, and started accepting the challenges of life. I saw a spark in myself that others could not see and for the first time, I felt like I could do this thing called life.
In high school, I met other students who had lost their parents and I knew I was not alone. I was able to use my story to help my peers who were experiencing the same common pain. The saying that when you help others, you help yourself was true. Through this I have gained a desire to study biology because I want to help others. I developed ways to deal with my own pain. I matured and realized that my pain has a purpose.
Now in this transition of life as I continue my senior year, I think of the wonderful memories of my father that I recall as well as ones that my family members have shared through stories and pictures. Life brought me grief in the loss of my father, but I know that I am becoming stronger each day. I will have moments of sadness sometimes, but I will not let that keep me from thriving. As I mature as an individual, I have learned to acknowledge my emotions and allow each experience to make me wiser and stronger.