From Overwhelmed to Organized: The Power of a To-Do-List by Madelyn

From Overwhelmed to Organized: The Power of a To-Do-List by Madelyn - February 2026 Scholarship Essay

A few months ago, I was sitting at my kitchen table at eleven o'clock at night in tears. Surrounded by papers, I was rushing to get tasks done, knowing I had to get up early the next day to tutor before school. With essays, projects, homework, and competing deadlines, this school year has become overwhelmingly stressful. I have so many dreams for the future, and I am determined to spend my time now in high school working towards achieving them. However, I realized that being constantly overwhelmed and stressed out wasn't healthy. Something had to change.
I woke up one Saturday morning and immediately began to think about the work ahead of me. My mind felt anxious and scattered, and I had no motivation. Reluctantly, I got ready for the day and sat down at my desk. Contemplating the tasks I needed to complete, I got the idea to write it all down. I opened the lists app on my phone and started typing in each task, both big and small, without worrying about how much the list was growing.
As I was doing this, my mind started to clear up. Suddenly, the day’s worth of work didn't even seem that bad. I opened up my computer in anticipation of beginning to begin checking off tasks one by one. I started with the smaller ones, and each completion felt like a small victory that built momentum. By the end of the day, I completed every task. I was overflowing with a sense of accomplishment, and not only did I complete all of my work, but I was able to have time to do the things I love like reading and spending time with my friends and family.
Ever since that day, I made it a habit to create a to-do-list prior to starting my day. I now feel as if I am in control of the work instead of letting the work control me. My mind feels so much freer, and I am no longer in a constant state of stress. From just taking the simple step of organizing my responsibilities, I am now able to successfully work towards my ambitions while still protecting my overall health and well-being.