Introspection by Jacob

Introspection by Jacob - August 2026 Scholarship Essay

Everyone has a period in their life where they are awkward or don't make the correct decisions socially. For me, that period surrounded my 7th and 8th grade years in middle school. I was the kid that would always correct others, the 'know it all kid.' If somebody around me said something that wasn't one-hundred percent correct, even if it was mostly there, I would be there to say what I believed was more accurate. It never came from a place of malice, and I always intended to ensure people had the correct information, but I realized after a while how annoying this behavior of mine was. I noticed that every time I would correct someone, they would react with slight annoyance or discomfort. This was all the feedback I needed, and after some introspection, I became determined to end this habit. Over time I worked to prevent myself from correcting others, and eventually I had it down to a minimum. This improvement also helped me with my self reflection, and I was able to think more about what I was doing and saying while talking to others moving forward. As I have gotten older and moved through different grades, this has led me to create better and closer friends that I would not have otherwise. Some of my closest friends are people who told me they found me irritating during middle school. If not for the feedback that I got during middle school, I would have never changed as a person, and it shows how even small changes can lead to larger improvements and more fulfilling lives.