Third Time Is The Charm by Karmen

Third Time Is The Charm by Karmen - August 2026 Scholarship Essay

Rejection is a bitter pill to swallow, especially when it comes wrapped in ambitions. By the time I was in junior year, I was intimately familiar with that bitterness. Twice.

Freshman year, I entered the interview surrounded by fifteen evaluators: dental and nursing instructors, faculty advisors, and board members. I prepared carefully, believing that my ability to lead depended on whether I was selected.

When I returned sophomore year, I approached the interview with more confidence and experience, yet I faced the same outcome. However, the second rejection taught me a lesson my first one could not: leadership is not proven by receiving a position; it is proven by the actions taken before receiving one. I began listening more closely during meetings, offering ideas, and recognizing that the most meaningful contributions often happen behind the scenes.

Twice before, I had poured my heart into applications for Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), only to be met with silence and sighs in the gloomy interview room. Sitting in my dental science advanced studies class, I was thinking of quitting my aspirations and accepting that HOSA simply wasn’t for me. Why should I subject myself to a third round of disappointment?

That self-defeating narrative changed the day I spoke with my dental science teacher, Mrs. Samayoa. When she noticed my hesitation about applying yet again, she didn't just offer standard words of comfort; she offered a fresh perspective. Instead of focusing on the title or the prestige of the organization, she reframed what the role of an officer actually meant. She pointed out new aspects of leadership I had never considered: documenting the journey of our chapter, capturing the dedication of future healthcare workers, and turning milestones into a lasting narrative. Her encouragement pierced through my frustration, shifting my mindset from “What if I fail again?” to “What if I do succeed?” Taking her advice to heart, I revamped my application, leaning into the constructive feedback I gathered from my previous attempts and Mrs. Samayoa’s insights.

By junior year, I entered the same interview room for the third time with a completely different perspective. When I earned the Historian position, it was not the moment I became a leader. It was the moment I was given a greater opportunity to serve. That third attempt taught me a lesson that extends far beyond a high school club directory. It reshaped my entire approach to personal growth by teaching me that setbacks are not permanent stop signs, but rather redirections. True resilience isn't about never facing rejection; it is about having the courage to listen to trusted mentors, pivot your approach, and try one more time.

I never needed the Historian title to become a leader.

Ironically, that was the year I earned it. Maybe the third time is really the charm.