The Power Of Persistence by Joy

The Power Of Persistence by Joy - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

One of the most challenging academic experiences I faced during school was writing the final research essay for my college writing course. The assignment required a significant amount of research, critical thinking, and planning, on a scale I have never worked with before. It tested not only my writing skills but also my ability to persist through difficulties. Ultimately, persistence became the key to overcoming this challenge, teaching me valuable lessons about determination, adaptability, and personal growth.

At first, the freedom to choose my essay topic seemed exciting. However, I quickly realized that narrowing down a topic was much more difficult than I had anticipated. I initially planned to write about the psychological factors that lead people to join new religious movements (NRMs). As I began my research, I noticed that my perspective on the topic was unintentionally biased, putting NRMs in a negative light. When my professor pointed this out in early feedback, I realized I needed to adopt a more balanced approach. This feedback led me to rethink my topic altogether, pivoting to explore how social media influences religion. While the shift aligned more closely with my interests and provided a fresh perspective, it also required me to start over, requiring additional research and reorganizing my essay. I had to persevere through this instead of abandoning my topic altogether.

Expanding upon that, this taught me the importance of adaptability in persistence. While I originally intended to write about NRMs, shifting to the influence of social media on religion was a necessary adjustment that ultimately led to a stronger essay. This experience taught me that persistence isn’t about stubbornly sticking to one path but about being flexible and willing to change direction when needed. This adaptability will serve me well in future academic and personal challenges, as life often requires us to adjust our plans and expectations.

The sheer amount of time and effort the essay demanded was another significant hurdle. Procrastination had been a recurring issue for me in previous assignments, but I knew this project was too extensive to leave until the last minute. To combat this, I relied on a structured schedule we created as part of the course. This schedule helped me break the essay into smaller, more manageable tasks, with specific deadlines for completing my outline, gathering sources, and writing drafts. Sticking to the schedule not only kept me on track but also made the process less overwhelming. I learned that persistence isn’t about working tirelessly; it’s about consistent, focused effort over time.

In the end, persistence allowed me to complete a research essay that I was proud of, even though it initially seemed overwhelming. By breaking the task into smaller steps, committing to a schedule, and embracing feedback, I was able to tackle the project effectively. This experience reinforced the idea that persistence is not just about effort but also about thoughtful planning and a willingness to grow. Looking back, I am grateful for the challenges this essay presented. They taught me the value of persistence not only in writing but in life. As I move forward in my academic journey, I will carry these lessons with me, confident that persistence will help me overcome future obstacles and achieve my goals.