The Wedding Dress Code by Dior

The Wedding Dress Code by Dior - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

I hated weddings when I was younger.
Not because of the cake or the long ceremonies, but because of the pressure. Pressure to wear the right thing. Pressure to act a certain way. Pressure to not draw too much attention but also not fade completely into the background. That anxiety didn’t stay confined to weddings. It followed me into classrooms, picture days, and conversations where I worried too much about saying the wrong thing. I cared so deeply about how others saw me that I ended up molding myself into whatever I thought would make me blend in.
If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this:

Don’t live to avoid embarrassment. Live to become who you are.

For years, I played it safe. I stuck to what I was good at, avoided situations that made me nervous, and rarely took risks unless I felt sure I wouldn’t fail. I didn’t realize that the fear I felt wasn’t a stop sign. It was a signal that something important was ahead. Instead of pushing forward, I often backed away, convincing myself that comfort meant control.
What I know now is that discomfort is where growth begins. Some of the most important moments in my life started with uncertainty. I was nervous walking into conferences where I didn’t know anyone, but I left with confidence and connections. I doubted myself when I took on new leadership roles, but I discovered skills I didn’t know I had. The moments I once feared would embarrass me actually became turning points.
Embarrassment never ruined me. Avoiding things out of fear of it almost did.
Today, I still get nervous. I still overthink sometimes. But I no longer let those feelings hold me back. I’ve learned that trying and struggling is a much better teacher than staying silent or standing still. Confidence doesn’t come from getting it right the first time. It comes from showing up anyway and realizing that messing up is just part of becoming better.
To my younger self: care less about looking polished and more about showing up fully. Speak up, try hard, laugh at your mistakes, and let yourself be seen. You are not too much. You are not behind. You are learning, and that is more than enough.