A Letter to Little Me by Mckenzie

A Letter to Little Me by Mckenzie - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could give one piece of advice to little McKenzie, it would be this: “Have confidence, walk into every room with your head held high, and don’t let anyone’s opinions keep you from shining bright because you are that girl!” I would look my younger self in the eyes and say it with love but also with urgency, because I know now how much those words could have changed the way I viewed myself during some of the most confusing years of my life.
Growing up, especially in elementary school, I was full of confidence. I didn’t need anyone’s approval to feel good about myself. I was bold, bubbly, and full of personality. I participated in school plays, talent shows, and anything else that gave me the chance to be creative and express myself. I never stopped to ask, “Do people think I’m good enough?” I knew that I was. That fearless energy opened doors for me, and I felt thrilled being myself. But everything shifted once I stepped into middle school.
Middle school was the first time I realized how deeply other people’s opinions could affect me. For the first time, I felt like I needed to change myself to fit in. I stopped doing the things that once made me stand out and started second-guessing the things I used to love. I constantly questioned how I looked, if my hair was cute enough, or if I was “cool” enough to be included. And no matter how many times my mom reminded me how beautiful and special I was, it felt like the only voices that mattered were the ones around me at school.
Looking back, I realize how wrong that was. The truth is, no one had it figured out in middle school. But, somehow, their opinions held so much weight in my world. It’s funny now, but it also reminds me of how fragile confidence can be if we let others shape it. If only middle school McKenzie had carried the same fearless attitude she had in elementary school, maybe she wouldn’t have felt so lost. Maybe she would’ve spoken up more, taken more risks, and believed in her own greatness instead of shrinking to fit someone else’s standards.
But the beauty in reflecting on the past is that I get to learn from it. I now understand that confidence isn’t about being perfect or being liked by everyone, it's about knowing who you are and standing in that truth, no matter who’s watching. And sometimes, we have to fall a little to recognize our strength. That's exactly what happened to me. Rebuilding my confidence took time, but I began to realize that the best version of myself is the one who doesn’t ask for permission to shine. I am learning to love that girl again.
So, McKenzie, here’s what I want you to remember: Keep your head high. Don’t let anyone’s opinion dim your light. Walk into that middle school like the red rose, you are bold, bright, and full of life. Let your confidence be an example for others who feel like they have to hide who they are. Be the reason someone else finds the courage to bloom, too.
If I could go back in time and hand that advice to my younger self, maybe I would’ve avoided some unnecessary struggles, but then again, maybe not. Because through those challenges, I became wiser. I learned the difference between approval and self-love. And most importantly, I learned that confidence isn’t something you find in others' opinions it’s something you build within yourself. And once you have it, no one can take it away from you.