More Than My Circumstances by Kaleigh

More Than My Circumstances by Kaleigh - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could give my past self advice, I'd say Don't believe that your current situation defines your future. You will be capable of so much more than you realize. I grew up in a single parent home, in what's considered an underserved community and managed a heart condition were all very challenging. Often times my world felt limited and small. But what I didn't know was that going through it all made me strong mentally and physically.

The little girl who used to feel trapped by her circumstances, please know this is not all there is. Life expands far beyond your block, your diagnosis, or any hardships you may experience through the years. You are not broken, one day you will realize everything you went through made you stronger, more compassionate, and more prepared for life.

If I could go back I'd gold her hand and say "Keep going. What feels like the end is only the beginning."

I would tell my past self these things because I remember how it felt to believe that life would always be hard and that struggles was something that would never outgrow. I would tell my younger self to keep pushing and remind her that pain isn't permanent. I would tell my past self that I've learned to manage my health and I've grown into someone I never imagined I could be. I would say that we are now college bound.