You ever work so hard for something that you basically make it your soul purpose? And then when you fall short, your soul gets crushed? That’s how I felt when applying for this full ride scholarship. Itʻs called the Sullivan Leaders Award; a 4-year scholarship that would have paid for my college education. I would get to be a part of an amazing community of young minds who had the desire to make the world a better place. Not only would this program be life changing but it made the college experience seem 100x better. I was banking so much on this award that I did not know what to do when I got the email saying that a decision had been made and it was not one that I would not be happy with. I had committed 5 months of my life to earning this scholarship and I didn’t make it. I was so close that I even made it onto the alternate list, that had only one other person on it. Although I was grateful to had have the opportunity to learn so much about myself, it still had hurt so much to know that I didn’t get it. That my next 4 years of life was about to be a financially difficult path; it made it seem like I almost shouldn’t attend the school that I so desperately desired to go to. But with the unwavering support of my parents, we still made the decision that I should attend Seattle University. I was ecstatic for college but there was this thing that just hung over my head, I was not going to be a Sullivan Scholar. The moment that it hit me I couldn’t help but cry. I couldn’t help but call my parents and friends that I didn’t get it. Something that I had been working so hard and devoted my life to it, it didn’t come through to fruition. There is a lesson to be learned in all of this, I had to say to myself. Throughout the whole process of trying to earn this award I had reached and pushed my limits. I engaged in difficult conversations and scrabbled my brain trying to think of new and exciting ideas. I focused on personal values and found new ways to implement my personal morals into everyday life. It was a humbling, and growing experience and I am thankful to say that I made it all they way to the very end and I am a better person because of it.
So the next time you fall short on a goal that you strived for with all your might. Just look at how far you pushed yourself to get there. Reflect on what you could have done to give a little more. Understand that things may not fall in your favor but maybe itʻs for the best. Maybe something good will come along with the bad.
