Shrinking the Mountain: Finding Voice and Vulnerability by Jacob

Shrinking the Mountain: Finding Voice and Vulnerability by Jacob - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

“Let one week begin your life.” When I first heard those words at Palmetto Boys State, I just thought they were a catchy phrase and didn’t care much about them. I had just arrived along with 1,000 other delegates, most of whom I’d never met. I was unsure of my purpose of being there and didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t interested in politics and didn’t want to give any speeches. However, by the end of the week, I would fully understand those words and connect with them.

After checking in and settling into my dorm, I looked over the schedule for the week. A lot of the time would be spent on elections and campaigning. But I had no intention of running for office. Speaking in front of others made me uncomfortable, and I didn’t think running for office was worth facing my fears. But our counselors continuously encouraged us: “This week is what you make it.” Yet I just brushed their comments off, at first.

Later that evening, we held our city party elections. The first office was the mayor's. Several guys gave speeches and ran, but I was still unsure if I wanted to run. However, when they asked for mayor pro tem candidates, I took a leap of faith and stood up. My speech was very short and filled with nerves. And although I lost the election, I learned something very important: I realized that stepping outside of my comfort zone wasn’t that scary, but rather it was empowering. So, I decided to try again and ran for the city council. I gave another speech, this one longer, better, and more confident. I lost once again, but my anxiety began to decrease with each speech I gave. I kept running for different positions throughout the city and county levels, and eventually, I gave a speech in front of about 150 people. However, by this point, the anxiety was mostly gone. What seemed like a mountain at first suddenly became a small hill, a challenge I could face. I learned that fear shrinks when I face it head-on, and that sometimes the only thing stopping me from growth is the willingness to overcome my fears.

But the most powerful part of Boys State wasn’t political, it was personal. Throughout the week, my city group went from strangers to friends. We spent so much time together and became a real community. On the last night, after the final assembly, we returned to our dorm, expecting to eat some pizza and go to bed. But something much more important happened. Our senior counselor started by sharing his life story. He spoke with honesty about the struggles he faced and how Boys State changed his life for the better. The junior counselors spoke, each opening up about the challenges they faced. One after another, my fellow city members spoke. They told stories of grief, heartbreak, family struggles, pain, and perseverance. Everyone listened and cried. The room that was filled with strangers just 5 days before had become a family. We were brothers. Before that night, I had not talked about the challenges I faced. But hearing others speak and listening to their stories gave me the courage to share the struggles I faced with grief and loss at our school. That night taught me something I’ll never forget: Everyone is going through something, whether we know it or not. I had learned to listen and show empathy, to open up, and that it’s okay to not be okay.

Palmetto Boys State started as an unknown place. However, by the end, it became one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I learned how to lead, how to face my fears, and most importantly, how to connect with others. Palmetto Boys State didn’t just begin my life; it changed it.