Just Keep Swimming by Jelisa

Just Keep Swimming by Jelisa - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could give my past self one piece of advice, it would be simple: "just keep swimming". When I first heard Dory say that in Finding Nemo, I thought it was just a cute phrase from a kids’ movie. I never imagined those three simple words would become something I would repeat to myself so many times in my adult life, especially during the moments when I felt overwhelmed and unsure of what came next.

Growing up, I believed life had a timeline I was supposed to follow. I thought I needed to hit certain goals by a certain age: finish school, have a career, reach financial security, get married, have children, etc. I was constantly comparing my life to others around me, feeling like I was falling behind. When my journey didn’t look like theirs, I questioned my worth. I couldn’t see then that everyone’s path is different, and that mine wasn’t wrong.

Becoming a single mother added another layer to those feelings. Balancing motherhood with school and work is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. There were days I wondered if I was giving my children enough of me while chasing my goals, and days I wondered if I was giving my goals enough of me while raising my children. I often felt pulled in two directions, doubting myself constantly. I was exhausted! Juggling early mornings, long shifts, late-night studying, and the never-ending responsibilities of being “mom.” Yet somehow, through all of that, I kept moving forward—even if it was slowly.

What I didn’t realize back then was that the hard seasons were shaping me in ways I couldn’t yet see. The long days, the missed milestones, and the times when I felt stuck weren’t signs of failure, they were signs of growth. Every late-night study session after putting my kids to bed, every shift at work when my body ached but I kept showing up, every quiet moment when I wondered if I’d ever make it. All of that was building my strength, my resilience, and my confidence. I wasn’t falling behind. I was learning endurance... I was learning to trust myself.

Now, looking back, I understand that my timeline didn’t need to match anyone else’s. Every part of my journey, even the parts I once wished I could skip, played a role in making me who I am today. I would tell my past self that just because it feels hard doesn’t mean you’re failing. I would remind her that time will pass anyway. Keep going. Keep moving. Keep swimming. Progress is still progress, no matter how small. It’s okay to rest, it’s okay to feel tired, but it’s not okay to quit. I would tell my past self to trust the process and embrace the journey, because everything she’s going through is preparing her for something greater. And one day, she’ll look back, just like I am now, and realize she was never behind. She was exactly where she needed to be all along.