Visualizing My Success by Gianella

Visualizing My Success by Gianella - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

Success is often measured by the final product, like the winning point or the end-of-year grade, but for me, success starts in the margins of my notebook. The small habit that has most profoundly impacted my academic and personal growth is visual journaling, which has bridged the gap between my analytical mind and creative aspirations.
This habit started as a way to process my studies in media production. Rather than just writing down the definition of a theory or concept, I draw them out so that I can visually absorb the content. This practice of translating abstract ideas into visual representations forces a deeper level of engagement with the material. It transformed my academic performance because it turned active listening into active creation. Now, when I go to edit or shoot a video, I already have a mental and physical map of how I want the narrative to flow.
In my personal life, especially as a collegiate student-athlete, visual journaling has become a grounding ritual. Being a student-athlete is high-speed and high-pressure, so taking a few minutes out of my day to curate a single page of my journal, whether it's a doodle or a photograph, allows me to slow down. It helps me process the nerves of game days or stress after a tough practice.
By consistently practicing the art of seeing and documenting, I have developed a sharper eye for detail that is crucial for work on the court and behind the camera. It has turned my education into a portfolio and my athletic career into a study of discipline. Ultimately, visual journaling has set me up for great success that I know isn't far away.