Kendall Little GRIT by Kendall

Kendall Little GRIT by Kendall - May 2026 Scholarship Essay

Whoopi Goldberg once said, “Getting a migraine was like there was a monster that would show up in your house whenever it felt like it and there was nothing you could do about it” Imagine the level of pain required to make such a comparison. I can truly relate, as I have suffered from severe migraines for the better part of my middle and high school years.
I vividly recall the earliest episodes. I arose after recovering from the flu. I felt a throbbing and severe pain on one side of my head that pounded with vengeance each time I attempted to get myself upright. All I could do was lay in bed with my eyes closed tightly and wish that the pain would end. It did not. After various neurological and primary doctor visits, I was diagnosed with episodic migraines - a condition where migraines can often occur 1 to 15 times per month and last for 4 to 72 hours.
As you can imagine, this level of pain created a disruption in attendance. I have always been a driven student, but this challenge demanded another level of “can do” and resilience. Maintaining A’s & B’s in a competitive educational environment requires determination, resourcefulness, and discipline.
I refused to allow the pain of this miserable “monster” to have the power to control and or destroy my high school experience. I made a conscious decision to intentionally push forward regardless of the circumstances. I could not control when the migraines would come. I could control how I would respond once they arrived. As I entered my junior year, I became purposeful with managing my time. I joined the varsity crew team, school choir, volunteered to distribute food to the homeless, served as a student mentor and worked part time in the aftercare program. Each of these extracurricular activities were a declaration that I am free from control of my condition.
Balancing this condition has taught me that I can persevere in the face of difficult obstacles. I learned to advocate for my needs under less than ideal situations, became organized and utilized my resources to achieve my goals.
Over the next four years, I plan to bring the same level of determination and grit to my selected college institution. My experience with migraines has taught me that challenges do not have to be barriers that stand in the way of accomplishing objectives.
The monster still visits from time to time, but I have developed the skills to show who’s boss.