The Power of Resilience by Ethan

The Power of Resilience by Ethan - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

"Choose resilience, even when it's hard," is the counsel I would give my former self if I could go back in time.

There will be moments when everything seems too much to handle: when failure, rejection, or setbacks seem like irreversible losses. However, I would remind myself that resilience is about how you handle difficult situations, not about avoiding them.

My experience playing soccer was one of the most significant turning points in my high school career. It was evident that I began playing competitive soccer later than the majority of my teammates. Others had years of experience, but I found it difficult to keep up. I put in a lot of training, caught up, and was selected for the varsity squad. However, in the middle of my sophomore season, I broke my ankle just when everything looked to be coming together.

I had just scored five goals in four games when it happened. I felt confident, enthusiastic, and driven. Then all that movement stopped in one agonizing instant. I was upset because I had put in so much effort to get there, in addition to the physical anguish. I felt as though everything I had worked so hard to build was gone.

But that injury taught me what resilience really means. I couldn't change the situation, but I could choose how I dealt with it. I committed to physical therapy, stayed mentally engaged with my teammates, and reminded myself of the broader picture. Watching the World Cup during my rehabilitation encouraged me to stay focused on my aims. When I finally returned to the field, I was stronger not only physically, but also intellectually and emotionally.

Outside of sports, resilience was also demonstrated. It was difficult to get used to high school during the pandemic. After a year of virtual learning, where I was surrounded by new people, faced challenging coursework, and under pressure to perform, I moved into a magnet program. I had to give up social time in order to keep up, and I didn't always receive the grades I desired. But I continued. I reminded myself that improvement frequently occurs subtly, via effort and introspection, rather than always receiving praise.

My efforts eventually paid off. I conducted service projects, graduated in the top 3% of my class, and was into Brown University, my ideal university. Looking back, I see that my decision to be resilient in the face of adversity was more important than my talent or knowledge.

You are stronger than you realize, I would tell my younger self. You don't need to be flawless to achieve progress, but the road won't always be simple. Drop and then rise again. Even if you have doubts, keep going. Comfort doesn't create resilience; struggle does.

You'll be pleased with your progress one day, not because it was simple but rather because you made the decision to keep going.