Advice to Past Self by Isabella

Advice to Past Self by Isabella - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

Many people have regrets or thing in their past they wish would have went differently. I personally have some part in my past I wish I would have done different, or made a decision I would have liked to known how it would affect my future. Sometimes I wish I could sit down with my past self and give her advice and tell her how much things have changed.
If I had any advice for my past self it would be to be yourself and don't let anyone change who you are. If I have learned anything as I have gotten older it is that people are easily influenced. I have had moments in my life so far where I have lost myself and did not feel like myself anymore due to being influenced by the people around me. I was so focused on fitting in with a certain group of people or trying to be "cool" that in those moments I lost who I really was. It all comes with being confident in who you are and realizing that it is way better for you to be around people who like you for who you are and understand you. I believe once you find your people or a couple close friends that is all that matters. They are the people who care about you and like who you are as a person and don't want you to change for anyone.
So, all in all my advice to my past self is to never change for anyone and be true to who you are. Don't lose yourself in certain moments to try and impress anyone because most likely those aren't people you want in your life anyways.