If you could give yourself one piece of advice to your past self, what would it be and why? by Ifunanyachi

If you could give yourself one piece of advice to your past self, what would it be and why? by Ifunanyachi - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

Wow, that is such a deep question, and I truly appreciate it because it forces me to think carefully and reflect on my journey. If I could give one piece of advice to my past self, it would be this: "You are unique, and you were created that way for a reason. Embrace who you are fully, without trying to be like anyone else. Your uniqueness is not something to hide or change—it’s what makes you special."

I would give myself this advice because growing up, I didn’t really have the space or encouragement to truly discover who I was. I often compared myself to others and wished I had traits that didn’t come naturally to me. I remember wanting so badly to be more extroverted, louder, or more socially effortless, because it seemed like those were the traits people admired and celebrated. I even wished my physical appearance was different, like having a different body type or looking more like people I saw being praised.

At the time, I didn’t realize how harmful that mindset was. Instead of appreciating what made me different, I spent a lot of time feeling inadequate. I didn’t have the kind of consistent affirmation or support that taught me to value my own voice and identity. That lack of validation left a gap I tried to fill by imitating others or downplaying my own strengths.

Now that I’m older, I see things so differently. With time and experience, I’ve learned that trying to be like everyone else only robs the world of the person I truly am. I’ve realized that my quieter nature can be a strength, that my perspective matters, and that my appearance doesn’t need to meet anyone else’s standard to be worthy. I’ve learned to be confident in who I am and to recognize that being wonderfully, fearfully, and uniquely made is something to celebrate.

If I could go back, I’d tell my younger self to hold on to her individuality fiercely, to nurture her interests and personality without apology, and to know that she is enough exactly as she is. Because embracing your uniqueness isn’t just about self-love—it’s about living fully, authentically, and with purpose.