Rough Transitions by Ema

Rough Transitions by Ema - April 2019 Scholarship Essay

My experience as a freshman was not what I imagined my first year of college to be like. I started at the University of Southern California as a spring admit: a freshman who would begin their studies at university starting in January, rather than August. Worse yet, I did not make the lottery for freshman housing and spent the remainder of my freshman year living with three random upperclassmen off campus. I felt completely out of place, lonely, and had no one to turn to. In hopes of finding my place, I applied to as many organizations as I came across during the Involvement Fair as a way to make friends and explore my interests. Graduating from one of the top public high schools in the nation, I felt extremely confident in my ability to get into competitive college level organizations. However, I was met with multiple rejections just as quickly as I had filled out the applications. It was one of the most disheartening moments I have ever had during my time at university and I felt like an outcast to a school that was supposed to become my home. My undergraduate career constantly tested my ability to be resilient - taking personal offense to the rejections led me to feel unconfident and less capable than my peers. I fell into a cycle of attending class, feeling dejected, and remaining closed off to any of the numerous centers of support offered by USC. After a professor took notice of my increasingly isolating demeanor, he counseled me and reminded me that my lack of initiative would not allow me to fulfill what I was capable of doing at USC. I learned to become more comfortable with asking for help and, as a result, I found mentors who guided me throughout my time in college and taught me to be a role model to others. I sought out help from the pre-health office and consistently reached out to professors for guidance. With their help, I became involved with the oldest student-run philanthropy on campus, created public health research presentations for the National Cancer Institute, and found my passion for service. As I continued my undergraduate journey, my past experiences propelled me to adapt a strong work ethic and push harder in the face of unfortunate circumstances. I used my experience with failure as an opportunity to learn and mentor other spring admits so they would not feel as lost and lonely as I was. I made a conscious effort to reach out to spring admits I knew, either from high school or through mutual friends, to explain my journey and pass on resources I wish I had or knew about as a freshman. I believe that my ability to thrive despite facing rejection can be a quality my peers and colleagues can emulate. My willingness to persevere and remain optimistic during times of adversity will lay the groundwork to become leader as a future physician.