Internal Strength by Kamiah

Internal Strength by Kamiah - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

The moment I discovered a new strength in myself didn’t happen suddenly or in a dramatic way. It happened during a time when I felt overwhelmed and unsure of myself. Between school, sports, and personal responsibilities, I started to question whether I could handle everything on my plate. Looking back now, that difficult time helped me realize that I am more resilient than I ever thought.

As a high school student taking dual enrollment classes and participating in wrestling, my schedule is very demanding. There was one week in particular when I had multiple college-level exams and an important wrestling match coming up. I felt exhausted both mentally and physically. I remember thinking about how much easier it would be to give up or do the bare minimum. Instead, I pushed myself to stay focused. I studied late at night, trained early in the morning, and reminded myself that I was working toward something bigger than temporary stress. That experience showed me that I could keep going even when things felt difficult.

Wrestling played a big role in helping me discover this strength. During one match, I found myself behind and feeling defeated. My body was tired, and my confidence started to drop. Rather than letting those feelings take over, I chose to keep fighting. I focused on giving my best effort until the final whistle, no matter what the outcome was. That match taught me that strength is not just physical—it is mental. I learned that I could stay determined even when I felt worn out and discouraged.

Since discovering this strength, I have grown in many ways. In school, I no longer avoid challenging classes because I know that struggling is part of learning. When things don’t go as planned, I try not to panic or shut down. Instead, I remind myself of moments when I pushed through and came out stronger. This mindset has also influenced my future goals, especially my interest in pursuing physical therapy. Going through physical challenges myself has helped me understand the importance of patience, effort, and resilience.

This experience changed how I see myself. I now understand that growth comes from facing challenges, not avoiding them. Discovering my resilience has helped me become more confident and motivated, and it continues to guide me as I work toward my goals.