Finding My Voice by Elijah

Finding My Voice by Elijah - May 2026 Scholarship Essay

Standing in front of my 15 classmates is getting ready to present my social studies project alone. Feeling a huge knot in my throat. I was terrified to speak. This was something I experienced so many times when I was younger. Being shy held me back from so much and prevented me from becoming the person I wanted to be. One experience showed me how stepping out of my comfort zone could change my life.

When I was in elementary school, I was the ¨athletic kid¨ so all the other kids gravitated towards me, and I was friends with almost everyone. However, when I got older and moved to middle school, I slowly became quieter and shy. I was nervous about talking to the kids in my class. I was even nervous to talk to my extended family members. I would always see my dad eager to talk to people. I wanted to be able to do the same thing. When we were talking one afternoon on the golf course, he told me something that changed my life forever. ¨Being quiet will get you nowhere¨. This made me think about all of my dreams. Having a big house, a high paying job, and a beautiful family. I realized I would never achieve those things If I continued to stay quiet and avoid talking to people. So, I decided I needed to make a change.

Hearing my dad to say this made me realize how important it is to talk to people. When I went back to school, I made up my mind that I was going to answer one question from the teacher in each class. I was going to talk to a new person every day to try and make as many friends as I could. When I went out in public, I was going to give a compliment to just one person. Little did I know how important it was to get out of my comfort zone.

Talking to people seemed like an impossible feat just 8 years ago. I have been able to make so many amazing friends and connections. I've gone to amazing places and met so many amazing people; Like a guy I met at the airport. He told me stories about him traveling all over the world when he was in the military. Without my dad giving me that advice, I wouldn't be the person I am today.