How Vivian found her strength by vivian

How Vivian found her strength by vivian - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

A strength that I found in myself is being persistent. Persistent has two meanings; the first one is
continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. The second is continuing to exist or endure over a prolonged period. Thus, how I found my strength was from trial and error, learning that it's okay to not be okay, and not taking no for an answer. It has also influenced major growth in my life in various ways.

There has been a lot of trial in error in my life. The trial and error has always been a true blessing in disguise. It has shown me that even with errors, you still keep trying again. You might not get something the first time, but keep trying until you get it; no matter the number of tries and losses, there will be at least one win. There were times I failed test after test, but the class work was always a 100. This was very discouraging. I was ready to give up, but the teacher told me, "It is not how fast the horse goes, but the load the horse can carry that matters. Giving up is not an option; you're closer to the finish than it seems." I carried on, and I still failed the test, but in the end, I passed. I didn't pass with a high grade that I would like, but I finally understood what she meant. While others choose to give up and stop trying, and fail the class. I continued, and it shows that my persistence was a strength by passing the class.

Persistence was also learnt through understanding that not being okay is okay. There were times in my life it felt like getting out of bed and trying was the hardest. It felt like it was a weight on my chest from disappointing relationship outcomes to everything seeming like it's going how I planned my life to be. Long nights of praying and crying, to crying in the car by myself, then going to class like nothing. I heard a quote from somewhere that stated, " if something doesn't work out, understand it was a blessing from God, he is saving you from conversations you have not heard of, ill intentions you do not see, so if it's meant it will fall together, and if not, it will fall apart. The truth will come to light. " I remember sitting and thinking and deciding that change has to happen. I understand that I'm hurt, and it's okay, but staying like this is not. I started going back to the gym and eating healthier again. Slowly but surely grasping back onto my life. Still nights and mornings where there were tears, but I chose happiness even when I didn't feel like it. Then I didn't feel the weight anymore and sat down and thought back to the past, that from a different pov now that those relationships were hindering me because they were one-sided and I was giving more than I received.

I learned persistence, also with not taking no for an answer. I couldn't get a job anywhere as an early high school graduate. Even with no after no, I still continued and kept trying. Now I have a job with Piedmont for patient transport lined up. I still am getting no after no with scholarships, but my persistence still continues as I'm writing an essay for a scholarship right now.

Thus, with my persistence, it opened major opportunities. From Piedmont offering to give me a job to paying for school. My persistence has also given me opportunities to meet new people, which has given me more connections for school. Persistence is the reason I keep going and why I do everything with care and love, even if it's a no, because you never know who else is watching and what's about to happen next.