A Learning Experience by Abygail

A Learning Experience by Abygail - July 2024 Scholarship Essay

Applying for college is not an easy task. Aside from the technical difficulties of preparing the applications and making sure everything is in order, it also comes with mental and emotional difficulties. As the oldest of four children, my parents didn’t have much insight to give on the application process as they have not had to help with it before. As a result, I navigated the process on my own.
My name is Abygail Mayberry, an incoming freshman at University of Colorado Boulder. Along with having very little help through the application process my parents cannot afford to assist me financially during college. Because of this I am in many ways doing this alone. There were times where I would be so overwhelmed with my schoolwork and applying for college and scholarships that I would miss something important, such as a due date for homework, or a deadline for a really great scholarship. But there were also times when I would be filled with excitement thinking about moving into a dorm and making friends in college. Now I am on my way to my dream school because of all my work.
This process required a lot of perseverance, and it taught me how important it is to do hard things, even when the outcomes aren’t certain. If I had never applied for college, then so many things would not be available to me later in life. Similarly, the process of applying for scholarships takes a lot of time and effort, but it is completely worth it. Not only are the possible outcomes good, but the process of applying requires me to slow down and think about things that I would not have thought about without being prompted.
Throughout college I will do my best to take this lesson with me. When I struggle in a class, I will think of what I am working towards and keep going. When the assignments get difficult, I will work hard and persevere because I know that I will get through it.