Guts by Lillian

Guts by Lillian - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

I have a nerdy fascination with roller coasters. My elementary and middle school passion projects were filled with mind boggling stats about Kingda Ka (the world’s fastest and tallest roller coaster), explorations about kinetic and potential energy along a track, and animated loops on every Google Slide. Ironically, I used to be terrified of riding the very “metal beasts” I obsessed over.

On my fifth grade field trip to Knott’s Berry Farm, while my friends rushed toward Ghost Rider, I stayed back with my dad, too nervous to step foot into the cart. Each time I talked myself out of facing my fear, the heavy weight of failure settled in my stomach.

Then one sunny day at California Adventure, I steeled myself to take the risk. I bravely set my face and boarded the towering California Screamin’, tears trickling down my cheeks as I braced myself for the launch. The countdown started: three, two, one…

The ride was incredible. I realized I could now do any ride I wanted to. Yes, I’d still get scared waiting in line while watching the coaster train zoom past me over and over again and I would never escape the feeling of jittery nerves, but I learned an important lesson: the scariest decisions, the ones that make my stomach clench and my hands sweat, will always end up shaping me the most. I stopped only dreaming about the awesome factors of the Kingda Ka, I eventually rode it in person.

If I could give my past self one piece of advice, it would be this: always take the leap. I almost didn’t audition for choir freshman year, convinced I wouldn’t make it. I nearly skipped a season of water polo, nervous I’d be judged for my slow swimming. I was seconds away from deleting my first job application, scared I couldn’t balance it with my AP classes. Now, I am a four year advanced choir member, varsity water polo captain, and an experienced swim instructor. Every time I have pushed through hesitation, I found growth, confidence, and unexpected joy. The best experiences don’t come with guarantees, they come with guts.