Routines with Meaning by Valeria

Routines with Meaning by Valeria - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

I wake up, wash my face, make myself feel pretty, and look in the mirror quickly as I'm ready to rush out the door. This was my daily routine for years, it was ritual I stuck to without meaning. Maybe I meant to pretend I didn't care about my appearance, intelligence, or lack of ambition. Or, maybe I cared so much that I became overwhelmed to the point of stillness and repetition?

When I was younger, during my teen years and early college semesters, I felt so lost and confused about my purpose. Everyone around me seemed to have a genuine interest in several areas, and for those who didn’t I was so sure they’d find success either way. I was different, I thought. My apprehensive mind convinced me of all the reasons why I shouldn’t pursue any interest I had. Medical school was too tough, art school was unreliable, and psychology was too broad — there was always a reason to step back and disillusion myself. I became exhausted, unmotivated, and felt stuck.

Feeling those emotions was a blessing in disguise for my now early college self. It pushed me towards a new perspective. Although I felt lost, and even a bit pessimistic, I decided to focus my energy on those interests I was too afraid to fail in. I took several courses unrelated to each other and I am so grateful that I did.

Now, I wake up, make myself feel pretty, and look in the mirror as I’m ready to rush out the door. This ritual isn’t new, but now it’s different and honest. If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self is to view everything through an open lens. Allow yourself to fail, to grow, to be bored, and to be busy.