Describe a moment when you discovered a new strength in yourself and how it has influenced your growth. by Rufus

Describe a moment when you discovered a new strength in yourself and how it has influenced your growth. by Rufus - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

Trash bags and dazed eyes, that's all each foster kid came with; each individual’s life
packed into these two things. Toys and clothes are wrapped in thick, oily black trash
bags, sometimes overflowing, other times almost empty. The eyes, however, are
always full. Full of memories of their past, along with an infinite amount of worries.
As a kid, it was hard to consider all of this. It never really bothered me where they
came from or who they had been before entering my home. My thoughts were
limited to whether or not this brand-new person would play with me. Yet, it was
unquestionable that each person shifted from stranger to my foster “sister” or
“brother”.
When recalling memories from my childhood, faces are blurry and distant,
but the experiences stay fresh. I can still hear Nerf darts whistling by my ear as I ran
away (frantically) from my tall, imposing foster brother Robert. Even now, the
warmth of the fort, built together with Marisol using just blankets and chairs, can
still give comfort when I'm cold. My foster brother, Blane, whose jet-black hair and
detached eyes contradicted his light-hearted nature, showed me the sometimes
inappropriate, always funny, comedy sketches that formed my sense of humor.
Strangers, often much older than me, were able to blur the line between foster
sibling and friend through jokes and games.
However, it wasn't always just sunshine and rainbows. I wasn't always the
best “little bro”. Experiences twisted my perception. I remember struggling to climb
into our family car, my legs like jelly after a long soccer game. Yet, this did not affect
me; it was my birthday after all. As I finished putting on my seatbelt, excited to go to
Red Robin for my birthday meal, I was told to turn around. In the backseat sat three
strangers. “Surprise!” said my mom, half sarcastically and half genuinely. Thoughts
of excitement (and also burgers) shifted into bitterness and hurt. Why had we
brought in new foster kids on my birthday? Why wasn't my birthday about me?
Feelings of self-pity and resentment consumed me. Things snowballed, my focus
turned to once-neglected sour memories. I remembered Robert stealing all my toys
and selling them on eBay. I remembered questioning if my parents cared for me as
much as others. My mindset changed. I lost all appreciation for what had once
given me so much joy. For a time, my resentment overshadowed all reason.
As I grew older, my family slowly stopped fostering. With that passing time
came wisdom. I realized that I was questioning the wrong things. I shouldn't have
asked why my birthday, but instead, understood their situation. My focus went away
from the trash bags of toys that bewitched me so much as a kid. I realize now that
what was most important was the complexities residing in each set of eyes.
Countless stories and experiences hide behind the curtains. When a new foster kid
entered my home, I now know it was infinitely scarier and foreign for them than it
was for me. I failed to realize the bigger picture. Even with these failings, what I did
gain is incredibly important to who I am.
Fostering taught me that every person carries baggage, not always in trash
bags, but in memories, pain, and hope. My own trash bag is hardly empty; it's filled
with my hopes and dreams, but it is not nearly full enough. I want to continue to
grow. Yet, I am now a more empathetic person and leader. I understand that
everyone else is on their own path forward and recognize the unique opportunity
to promote inclusive and meaningful relationships. Learning how to understand the
situations of others allows me to find solidarity with everyone