College Essay On Why I Deserve A Scholarship

“Determination” is a word often overlooked. Nowadays, it tends to be ignored in favor of “perfection” and “effortless”. Where drive and vision were valued qualities in America’s infancy, the ease of technology and the ever-climbing ceiling on success has blinded society to the value of a hard day’s work. In fact, America’s own foundation is often overlooked; where would our nation be if not for the determination of our first colonists? As our superpower status is only augmented, our aim is not vision, but an unfettered and flawless ascent.

This same aversion to challenge is often a tenant of academia. The International Baccalaureate Program is a renowned culprit. While the curriculum aims to cultivate an iron-strong work ethic and inspire comprehensive vision, many of its students desire only to glide effortlessly at the top. Where minimized effort is often emulated, valuable assets like drive and hard work are often overlooked or even ridiculed.

Where determination has slipped from the expansive American vocabulary, it is the driving note of mine. Striving, an incessant push from ordinary to extraordinary, is the foundation of my personality. As early as elementary school, I was spending hours each weeknight, bent over papers, pencil in fisted grip, demonstrating my will to learn, even as my

I strive for musical and athletic excellence in our school’s top ensembles and in varsity swimming, despite availability of time and money. I drive for an improved community: alongside dedicated classmates, I have started a civic action project, inspiring voting in the youngest demographic. Where many would be content with stagnation, I actively seek renewal, the hope for a better future. Just this semester, I log more than 24 hours a week instructing swim lessons at our community’s recreation center in addition to academic and collegiate demands. Despite challenges, I have always made time for these