Fnding My Strength by Mckinley

Fnding My Strength by Mckinley - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

I tried out for the school basketball team like I did the last three years. I knew I made the team, but I knew something was different when I got my name called. It was a long pause to walk to my coach, and he looked me in the eyes for what seemed like forever. The head coach slowly said,” This year, you will not match the depth chart and not fit the team's roster.” After hearing those words, I got up and respectfully shook his and the other coach’s hands. All I can think of at the time is one question. “What's next?”
This specific experience made me realize that I had a strength that was not there before. It made me realize I needed a change in my academic and personal lives. Even though it was a difficult experience, I gained a lot of insight that helped me through this transition. I realized that my strength is the ability to overcome obstacles and grow from the lessons learned.

I knew I was not going pro. I knew I was not playing college ball, but I never thought basketball would end early. Basketball takes a lot of time out of academics. Ever since this experience, I have focused more on academics. I have joined many clubs and was even selected for a state position. If you had told me this on the day I tried out, I would have laughed at you. This experience motivated me to become more well-rounded academically and in preparing for my future. I have developed an action plan for my future as a college student and afterward. If I had made the team, I would not have written about that experience or even been concerned about my future. The insight that I gained allowed me to understand that an extracurricular activity that I spent a lot of time in my childhood should not shadow something more meaningful in my adulthood.

Basketball is one of those sports that require a lot of effort. This means hours and hours of practice. Sacrificing your winter break means getting just Christmas off or part of your New Years Holiday. It took me months to find my social life outside of basketball. That's the only thing I knew at the time. This experience was challenging but probably the best thing for me. I have traveled more with my family. I have piloted a plane. I have made new friends. I have gained more school spirit. My social life recovered from basketball and has improved in the last year.

Honestly, I thought this experience would break me. I thought I would never recover and get back to my usual self. With all of that happened to me, I was able to find the strength to overcome adversity and learn. After all of this, I have gained a lot of experiences and insight that I can carry into my adult years. When you face adversity and have something shocking happen to you, it is better to face and deal with it. Trust yourself because your strength will show up right on time to get you through.