My Story of Perseverance by Toyosi

My Story of Perseverance by Toyosi - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

My greatest strength is my perseverance, which I discovered during my second year of college. After switching my major from biology to nursing at the end of my first semester, I was still learning what it truly meant to be a nursing major. As I navigated this transition, I learned that places as nursing majors were not guaranteed and that my school had one of the most competitive programs in the state. These facts gave me anxiety. On top of that, I had to take the TEAS nursing entrance exam. The first time I took it, I scored a 72%, which was far below the average accepted score of 85% or higher. I was also facing financial pressure, which, along with the academic uncertainty, left me feeling overwhelmed and discouraged.

Despite these challenges, my desire for a better future and my determination to prove both myself and others wrong motivated me to keep going. I committed myself fully to my studies, earning all A’s for the first time in my academic career. I also retook the TEAS exam and improved my score to an 87%. I applied to the nursing program for Fall 2025 and was accepted. This experience was incredibly rewarding because it showed me that my hard work and perseverance truly paid off. During my sophomore year, I gained a clear sense of purpose and direction for the first time. I proved to myself that when I give my all to something, success is possible.