Significance Within Time by Gabriella

Significance Within Time by Gabriella - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

From the moment we’re old enough to understand the world around us, numbers are there, quietly shaping who we are. Remembering the excitement of learning to count, holding up tiny fingers as my parents asked me, “How old are you?” Two fingers, then three, marking time as if those numbers were the most important part of growing up. And in a way, they were. They measured the milestones, telling me when I could start school, when I’d finally be a teenager, and when I’d be able to drive. My age wasn’t just a number; it was a badge of progress, something that said, “Look how far you’ve come.”

Then there were grades. Numbers that didn’t just sit in the background—they were loud and sometimes unforgiving. An 85 felt worlds apart from a 90, and every percentage point seemed like it carried the weight of my future. I can still picture the moments of holding a test paper, heart racing, waiting to see what number was scrawled in red ink at the top. It felt like that one digit decided how I was seen by others—my teachers, my parents, even myself.

But numbers didn’t stop there. They followed me onto the field, where I proudly wore the number 32 on my jersey. It wasn’t just a random choice. That number became part of my identity, representing me every time I stepped onto the lacrosse field. 32 wasn’t just a piece of cloth—it was who I was as an athlete. It reminded me of the effort I put in during every practice, the goals I set for myself, and the teammates who saw me as number 32 before they saw my name.

And of course, numbers shape more than just grades and sports. Think about value—how much something is worth. A price tag can change how you feel about an item, whether it’s something you desperately want or something you dismiss without a second thought. Numbers control that feeling, the way you see the world’s worth and your own.

In every stage of life, numbers are there, quietly—but powerfully—defining the paths we take. They measure time, success, identity, and value. From the age I was when I first understood their importance to the jersey I wear on the field, numbers have always been more than just digits. They’re part of the story of who I am.