NSLC by Terri

NSLC by Terri - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

I stand in front of the mirror like I have a million times before but this time instead of looking at what I’m trying on. I look at my grandma standing behind me and the room she’s standing in. In this apartment, she made a home after losing everything to Hurricane Katrina, opened her doors for me when I was little, potty trained me, and still to this day is my safe space. Standing in this apartment I wear a yellow skirt and a yellow suit jacket with shoulder pads. The bright color compliments me well and already fits, I can see my grandma admiring her pick or me? I'm still not sure. She’s been on a mission for 2 months to find me clothes for my summer program. This is the day I finally see the newest additions to my professional wardrobe, the day I saw who I’m going to be in my program. I imagine myself walking the Georgetown University Campus in this suit, confident and glowing, enjoying classes to understand our political systems and thriving in our political simulations. I fell in love with the suit as well as the bright red suit and bright orange shirt she had found. The vibrant hues a depiction of my passion and energy.

On the 25th of June, I arrived at Georgetown University for my summer program: the National Student Leadership Conference’s political action and public policy conference. When I arrived on campus everything felt so big and historic, filled to the brim with opportunities, its beauty so great. I watched the other students, some leaving the program and some arriving just as I was, I focused on their air of intelligence and self-confidence. It filled me with so much anxiety, and at that moment I realized I was going to have to measure up to those kids. Was I going to belong? Was who I am enough? Despite these doubts, I put on my yellow suit and held my head high on the way to the opening ceremony. During the ceremony, I did another sweep of my peers, listened to their interactions, tried to have some of my own, and I concluded that this was not going as planned. The yellow suit no longer radiated confidence but highlighted how much I didn’t understand or fit in.

After that I hid my colored clothes in the back of the dorm closet, deciding I need not bring more attention to myself. The first 3 days of the program I put together every black piece of clothing I brought until I couldn’t anymore. Those days were the most unsure I had ever felt. I didn't feel as smart as my peers, I didn't know how to write policy or handle our funds. I felt useless and underqualified to be there. On the 4th day I had run out of black, so I wore a blue and white striped button-up. That day was the first day of our political science lecture series. The first day I was so confused but intrigued as well…The second day of lecture started the whirlwind of changes. As the professor explained political polarization and the definition of democracy, I found a deep interest in understanding political patterns, once I started enjoying the class it was like I saw the world in color. The next day I wore my bright orange shirt and began enjoying all my classes, truly connecting with my peers, as well as seeing my value and place in our political simulations. I finally felt like I belonged there, like I had a valuable skill set, as if I could compete internationally. I realized that I don’t have to make myself smaller to fit my purpose in political science. The last time I wore a professional dress for my program I wore my red suit, my brand new Capitol Hill pin, and held my head high.