To be you is to be yourself. by Khania

To be you is to be yourself. by Khania - August 2026 Scholarship Essay

In a world of boundless space, we all have a sense of feeling enclosed within our own minds. I'm Khania Jones and by the world’s standards, I am an upcoming successful Black woman. Yet, this success doesn’t prevent me from feeling ‘less than.’ Not less than because I have failed to meet societal norms, nor because of the reflection I take a glimpse of when I look into the mirror. I’m not consumed with the disease of addiction. So how could I feel so diminished despite all my accomplishments?

This question isn’t just for myself; but I wonder for those who I may pass daily, those I offer a fleeting smile to before continuing my day as if that moment was nothing more than a fleeting memory. It’s for anyone who has become a repetitive presence in my life. How can so many things feel ‘less than’ when they hold so much potential?

I used to thrive on the satisfaction of others. Seeing you smile was enough value for me to smile. But, then it became clear for me to start building the foundation of what made me feel whole. That’s when everything crumbled. "You're so disrespectful and outspoken." "Do you think of anyone else besides yourself?" "Where did all this darkness come from?" "You never come around anymore?" My head starts spiraling,racing,twirling. What am I doing so wrong by simply being myself? This is precisely what the cycle wanted me to feel - a form of manipulation. It doesn't diminish the impact, regardless of who it comes from or what is being overloaded into your new life. It's still a fragment of everything preventing you from being your complete self.

No matter what others concluded my future should be, it was only truly within reach if I had control over all the pieces in my own life. You cannot genuinely contribute to a life that someone else is directing, expecting you to fulfill in every aspect. So it all has to begin somewhere.

The journey of truly taking ownership of yourself is one of the toughest challenges. You have to figure life out, discover who you are, understand your inherent value, all while ensuring it’s not diminished by what others have projected onto you. And it takes a fight within you to be able to do it without backing down. Everything contradicts what has been programmed into you. But, you're ultimate goal is to simply be you.

Life’s journey isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon, and you are the one who controls its pace and progress. I’ve learned to evaluate my life with the same discipline an athlete uses when training for a significant event. Every experience contributes to the complete person you become . Childhood, for instance, is like stretching-a preparation filled with lessons you’ll revisit as you navigate change. Mental disruptions are like cramps; they won’t take you out of the race, but they can slow you down or even require a momentary pause to regain your composure. Every part of the journey is useful and valuable for different reasons.

I’ve grown into myself by identifying and addressing the various challenges in my life. I’ve learned to weave together fragments of happiness to create a whole life of peace, allowing me to achieve what I truly desire. To truly be myself and live freely, I had to choose what I genuinely wanted, without letting others’ expectations dictate my path. I understood that becoming ‘me’ began with simply being ‘me.’ And one day, realization will resonate with everyone who chooses to put themselves first.