Senior Year Aspirations by Viviana

Senior Year Aspirations by Viviana - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

I’ve learned that success isn’t worth much if it comes at the expense of your health.
My junior year was everything everyone said it would be: stressful, overwhelming, and emotionally exhausting. I found myself going to bed a few hours shy of my designated wake-up time. My dad would often find me in the early hours of the morning, hunched over my Biology notes like a goblin hoarding its treasure. At the time, I believed I was just being a dedicated student who was doing her best to achieve the highest grades on all assignments. However, the only thing I was doing was destabilizing my mental health.
As summer rolled around, all those sleepless nights crashed into me with a wave of exhaustion I hadn’t felt before. Instead of an enjoyable summer I had envisioned, I spent hours in my room struggling to find motivation to start my day. With all the hours I had spent in school the previous year, I felt an overwhelming pressure to maximize my free time before I fell into the cycle again. Yet, with all these tasks looming over me, I resorted to doing nothing and instead scrolling through 15-second videos on my phone. Summer was one long taxing slump.
Coming into senior year, I knew I couldn’t repeat the mistakes of the past. While I did achieve good grades, it wasn’t directly because of those sleepless nights I spent studying. My best work came when I gave myself breaks and sought out my hobbies, clearing my mind for the day ahead of me. This year, I want my success to come from balance rather than burnout. Just remembering the fallout I had this past summer is enough to fuel my motivation for the entire year. Knowing it's my final year of high school, I do not want to spend it in a slump, all because I couldn’t create a healthy work-life balance.
I imagine the life ahead of me, the fond memories I will create here in high school, and the ones I will have in college. With all these opportunities and events ahead of me, I don’t want to feel chained by the pressure I’ve placed on myself. I want to leave high school feeling proud of both my achievements and my well-being.