Describe a moment when you discovered a new strength in yourself and how it has influenced your growth. by Zavier

Describe a moment when you discovered a new strength in yourself and how it has influenced your growth. by Zavier - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

The obstacles in our lives make us who we are. Poet Maya Angelou explains, “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” When I was four, I met my defeat.

Growing up, I've always known I wanted to become an actor. I wanted to see myself on TV and bring joy and entertain others. I loved taking on characters and really embracing them as my own, and not having to worry about how the audience sees Zavier. However, becoming an actor felt so impossible after two childhood accidents. I was doing the most exciting thing four year olds do, jumping and flipping off the bed with my uncle. One day, I miscalculated the flip or the jump, maybe even both, and slammed the back of my head into the floor. My father rushed me to the hospital with blood leaking from my ears. My parents tell me that the doctors were concerned with my speech pattern, unsure if my concussion caused a brain injury or if I was experiencing childhood developmental stuttering.

Fast forward 11 months on one of the best Christmas’s ever, I received a grassy green baseball mat with toy figurines resembling the ones from Toy Story. I set up the figurines for a game, but I needed to grab a tissue for my runny nose. The mat then became like a banana peel from a cartoon. I fell backwards hitting my head, again. Another emergency room visit. Another concussion.
After my second concussion, I not only had bumpy speech, but I also developed secondary characteristics which displayed physical behaviors such as fist clenching, muscle tension, and facial exaggerations. I constantly repeated syllables and strained words while tilting my head back to force the words through.

I started seeing a speech therapist for 20-minute sessions twice a week for the next two years. Although my speech was improving, my parents sought out a private pediatric speech therapist and I would have thirty-minute sessions twice a week also. Even with the doubled speech sessions, I struggled to speak plainly and the verbal bumps turned into physical pain and humiliation, especially at school. When I stuttered, the kids teased, “Spit it out!” Those words angered me. I was not only angry with my classmates, I was angrier at myself that my inner and outer voices were mismatched.
Three to four times weekly, speech therapy was part of my life. The initial progress was very slow but over time eventually improved. My school and private therapists taught me skills to manage the disfluency. In fourth grade, I graduated from services. Although I no longer present the noticeable secondary characteristics, disfluency will always be part of my life. Eight years later, I still use my tools. Every once and again, if I am anxious or nervous, stuttering appears. However, because my tools are also a part of me, most people just notice what I call “speed bumps”, they do not recognize it as a medical condition.

I did not approach my diagnosis with doom and gloom and give up on my acting desires. I found a way to hurdle over what looked like defeat and looked at it as if I have discovered a new strength. I’ve acted in many stage plays and commercials, even appearing in Chicago P.D. My proudest accomplishments though have been competing on my high school debate team. I am a 2025 National Speech and Debate Tournament qualifier. I am ranked number one in Illinois Lincoln-Douglas. I also serve in leadership in my extracurricular activities and am President of my Jack and Jill chapter. Much like when I was younger, I talk constantly and confidently, thriving giving speeches regularly. Where many people are intimidated to speak publicly, I consider it my superpower.