Neuroplasticity - The Brain's Hidden Superpower by Iona

Neuroplasticity - The Brain's Hidden Superpower by Iona - October 2026 Scholarship Essay

I first started researching neuroplasticity after an anxiety-ridden day in my psychology class. My head ached from lack of sleep due to the racing thoughts that had kept my heart pounding all night. My anxiety was my calculated foil, my arch-nemesis since I was young. Programmed to lead me down a rabbit hole of worst-case scenarios and self-doubt, the constant questioning of whether I was good enough was routine. It suffocated me, but I had also become complicit. It was just how my brain worked, or so I thought.
The lesson that day was on cognition. Each concept was pretty simplistic to me --- neurotransmitters were messagers, dopamine was the happy chemical, and I was sure my amygdala was the one responsible for the anxiety I’ve dealt with for years, how inconsiderate! Neuroplasticity was the topic that captivated my attention the most. The knowledge that our brains have the ability to constantly change, grow, and learn led me to the first step of the scientific method, questioning. Could I control how my brain responded to my anxious thoughts if I just taught it differently? My hypothesis was set, and I began experimenting right away.
I tested my theory during a busy Starbucks shift the next morning. I accidentally made a drink wrong twice, causing my co-worker to have to step in. It was humiliating, and I could feel the negative thoughts creeping in, but I didn’t let them. I circumvented these thoughts, and attacked the age-old “I’m not good enough” with “It’s okay to make mistakes”. Immediately, the panic lost its power. Every mistake I had made that shift, I took as an opportunity to reteach my mind. “I suck” turned into “I’m learning”, and soon enough, the thoughts no longer stuck around. With my perfectionism weakened, and my hypothesis proving solid, I started to attack my anxiety with the same idea. Instead of letting my brain ruminate, I taught it the act of a quick rebuttal. “I was so quiet today”, for example, was hit with “I was kind today, and that’s what matters.” Soon enough, the thoughts slowed, and I could finally rest. My mind isn’t always perfect, and I still tend to freak when my Frappucinos come out clumpy. However, in recognizing neuroplasticity, I’ve learned that we don’t have to suffer with these thoughts forever, and our brains have the superpower to change, grow, and fight them.