Not the end, Just the beginning by Stacy

Not the end, Just the beginning by Stacy - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I could give one piece of advice to my past self, I would say: "This is not the end, this is just the start as long as you never give up, you can always stand back up. Even if the mistakes were yours, you can redeem them and turn them into a meaningful lesson." I would say this to myself in my first year of college, during one of the hardest moment in my life which is when I was dismissed from the University of Illinois at Chicago. At just 18, I had thought I had already failed my entire future. I believed I had ruined everything because of my own poor decisions and lack of direction. That experience made me feel like I was not smart enough, that I did not belong in a higher education, and I felt like I had not just let myself down but also my family.
The truth is, I did make a mistake. I came into college thinking I had to listen to everyone's advice such as family, older students, teachers, and just about anyone who had walked the path before me. While I know they all meant well, I did not know how to separate their experiences from my own journey. Eventually, I stopped listening entirely, but also did not have the experience or tools to guide myself properly. I was lost in trying to meet expectations that were not even mines.
Looking back, I now understand that failure does not define you. What does define you is how you respond to failure. Being dismissed from UIC was not my end call for my education, it was my wake up call.I had to face the consequences of my actions, but I also realized that I had the power to rebuild. I could take responsibility, learn from my mistakes and start again with more clarity, determination, and a stronger sense of who I am and what is that I want.
This lesson is something I carry with me everyday. I have learned that listening to others is valuable, but I do not have to absorb everything. People's advice comes from their own paths, but no journey is the exact same. I have learned how to filter what's helpful for me, and I now trust my judgement in making choice for my own good.
My goal now is to complete my Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology and pursue additional certifications in different imaging fields. Beyond the academics, though, I also want to use my career efforts and results to give back to my parents, who have sacrificed so much for me. One day, I hope to buy them a house, create more financial stability for my family, and be a source of pride and peace to them. That vision keeps me grounded, focused and moving forwards.
So if I could go back and talk to that girl in her work place bathroom, feeling like a complete failure, I would remind her that the people who have succeeded are not the ones who never failed, its the ones who keep getting back up. I would tell her that she will be fine, that every painful moment of the chapter its just the beginning of her journey to prosperity.