Learning To Breathe by Gracia

Learning To Breathe by Gracia - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

In tenth grade, my counselor suggested meditation to help my mental health. It sounded easy: still, breathe, relax. I could do it.

I started like most beginners, watching YouTube videos titled Meditation for Beginners. I rushed home before my family could see me, sat on the floor, pressed play, and failed. I kept wondering if I was doing it wrong. After several attempts, I gave up and searched online for why I couldn’t “get into a meditative state.” One answer stuck with me: Maybe you’re forcing it. Still determined, I tried everything else. I went on walks and journaled. After weeks of trying, I decided meditation just wasn’t for me.

Then, after a therapy appointment where I was diagnosed with depression, something unexpected happened. As I walked out, overwhelmed with my diagnosis, I began to meditate. Breathing: in, out. Without realizing it, I reached the calm state I had been wanting. It happened when I needed it most.

That moment taught me a lesson I still carry today: growth doesn’t come from perfection. Some things arrive when you allow space for them. What I once thought I couldn’t do became a reminder that patience with myself is often the greatest success.