Communication and Self Advocacy Making a Differnece by Isabelle

Communication and Self Advocacy Making a Differnece by Isabelle - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

From a young age, I learned the value of self-advocacy due to my life threatening peanut allergy. I was forced to speak up for myself at restaurants, at birthday parties, and at friends’ houses to make sure I was safe from the risk of going into anaphylactic shock. Because of this, I realized that speaking up sets you apart from others. As I sat at the peanut-free lunch table, I began to learn how to approach others and build the courage to seek kindness from classmates who included me in lunch conversations. Effective communication and interpersonal skills became an integral part of who I was becoming.
As I navigated high school, I encountered a different kind of setback that made me feel isolated once again. I struggled to find myself academically. After coasting through freshman year, never having to seek extra help or deeper understanding, I began sophomore year with a similar mindset. By the end of the semester, I had hit my lowest academic point, leaving me feeling disconnected from my class and my full potential.
Preparing for my next semester of sophomore year, I resurrected the traits of self-advocacy I had developed throughout my life. But instead of advocating for my safety, I was advocating for my academic growth. I spent the rest of my sophomore year focusing on my mindset and my internal growth.
I relearned how to communicate effectively and reach out for clarity. I began meeting with my counselor to express my concerns about my underachievement. From that point on I made a plan to do better, seeking teachers out and meeting with them after school, trying methods like notecards for studying, and requesting to move to the front of the classroom. Redeveloping the ability to advocate for myself and express my concerns helped me to understand the success I was capable of achieving when I put the effort forth.
Self-advocacy, communication, and effective interaction have been traits that I have lived by throughout my life, but they resonate deeply because of my academic journey throughout high school. During junior year, I immersed myself in class content, went to teachers with questions, attended weekly tutoring, and, most importantly, began to believe in myself. These efforts led to significant growth, both in my grades and in my self worth.
I have now developed an attitude that makes me want to attend class so I can understand and grow beyond my academic limitations. Rather than focusing on letter grades, I focus on the knowledge I gain. While others are obsessed with their GPA, I prioritize learning, working as hard as I can, asking for help as needed, and doing my best.