Not all that glitters is gold by Katora

Not all that glitters is gold by Katora - August 2026 Scholarship Essay

The realization that not all things that last are good and that not all good things are meant to last is such a harsh but necessary point to come to. The environment I was raised in shaped a lot of separate thoughts about my future relationships with people. When you fall into a cycle of maltreatment, it's so easy to mistake the first sign of a good thing as something that is theoretically supposed to stay as a positive influence for your mind. However, this isn't good for you to move with this mindset because it limits your brain's ability to accept change because of the idea that "this is supposed to be good for me, why does it feel so bad?" The result of this is that I grew to ignore the warning signs that most times were right in front of me and I chose not to acknowledge them in fear that everything will collapse and it'll be my fault. Noticing that the people in my circle sometimes didn't have the best intentions for me and therefore should be removed from said space is hard. This period for me is something I struggle with a lot. I'm so used to taking in all the bad traits in exchange for the one good thing I got out of it when the relationship first started. Acceptance and progression is about discovery and finding out what works for you. Being in a relationship that is toxic starts small but leads to more serious effects and the shaping of the brain to immediately shut down negativity from anyone else because you're projecting the time that was good for you. Not all good things are supposed to last, which is why you're supposed to bask in them while they happen, not after the fact.