Say it! Or Write it by Isabella

Say it! Or Write it by Isabella - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

When I discovered writing, it was as if I had finally put on glasses and my blurred vision was cleared. As a person who was always talking, using my words to create endless relationships be it with people my age, teachers, or a random person I met while I was out in public, writing gave me another path to use my voice. It helped me be vulnerable with not just people, but with myself, which was something I had always struggled with. Because no matter how friendly I could be, I could still never truly relay my real emotions.
It was my freshman year of high school, and I had decided to take a creative writing one class, just for fun. I was excited to see what the course held and when I turned in my first writing assignment, I received a 100 percent. The story was a tale of a brave and cunning woman warrior who saved her people from a treacherous evil. Fun right? Of course, there were some grammatical and syntax errors—as there usually is for new writers—but the story itself was a hit with my classmates and teacher. They gave me positive as well as helpful feedback and I found myself enjoying it and wanting to make my story the best I could.
For the remainder of the course we dabbled in fiction and poetry, it was exhilarating to say the least. So, when my sophomore year came around, I made sure that creative writing two was on my schedule. During creative writing two I began to become more confident in my writing and in turn became more vulnerable. I realized that the words I formed in my head about how I felt but could never say, I could write out. To be honest, it was a bit scary. It felt as if I was laid out bare for people to see.
I remember when I turned in my nonfiction workshop story for everyone to read, I was so nervous. The story was about the loss of my Abuelo, and my journey with grief. I don't particularly know what I was so worried about, maybe it was the idea of everybody judging me. But I had nothing to be scared of, because it was met with love and understanding. People told me that they enjoyed how I conveyed grief, others said my writing made them feel as if they were in my shoes. I felt a wave of relief and a tsunami of happiness.
I would then go on to write much more vulnerable content, simply for myself to get my thoughts out. Writing influenced me to stop suppressing my emotions and to simply voice them. My friends and family—including myself—would say that I am a much more honest and open person now, which is a positive thing. I think that being yourself and not suppressing what you feel is a real sign of growth. It has made me more emotionally intelligent with myself and others. So next time you feel strongly about something, say it! Or write it. Don't be afraid of being judged.