Success on My Own Terms by Jazmin

Success on My Own Terms by Jazmin - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self, it would be this: your circumstances do not define your future. You may have to work five times harder than others, but that does not make you less capable. It makes you stronger.

Growing up, I often compared my journey to the paths of others. I saw classmates with more resources, fewer responsibilities, and what looked like easier lives. That made me question whether I was at a disadvantage and whether my goals were out of reach. I started to believe that because life was harder for me, my dreams had to be smaller.

Over time, I realized that challenges do not limit potential. They shape character. I have learned how to stay disciplined, how to push forward when things feel heavy, and how to keep my focus when distractions try to knock me off course. Every hardship I’ve faced has taught me something valuable about persistence, faith, and resilience.

I now define success by how committed I am to my goals and how much effort I am willing to put in. Progress is not always quick or perfect, but every step forward still counts. What matters most is that I never lose sight of where I’m going and that I never let my circumstances determine what I can achieve.