Introvert Me by Kelly

Introvert Me by Kelly - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

As an introverted freshman in a new environment, my start to high school was very isolated. As much as I wanted to build friendships and participate in class, my personality wouldn't allow me to. I felt academically limited that year because I wasn't able to comfortably be a part of group projects or ask questions, causing me to miss out on valuable learning experiences. My sophomore year was when things changed. Everything shifted when my school announced the creation of the Black Student Union club, and I saw a flyer about the elections for leadership roles. Although I had little confidence while signing up, I went out of character and ran for the role of “event coordinator.”
Preparing for my campaign speech was stressful because I wasn’t familiar with this side of myself, but I knew it was a part of me I wanted to see more of. To ease my mind, I practiced in front of my parents and recorded myself. Through this process, I learned to channel my anxiety into motivation. On top of that, the idea that, as a Latina, I could play a part in supporting minority communities pushed me even further. Election day came, and despite my doubts, I was elected. For the first time, I saw what pushing past my comfort zone can do, proving to myself that I could achieve more than I’d imagined.
Now, I use my confidence to build strong connections with classmates and teachers, and I continue to seek opportunities to grow. I’ve learned that significant progress requires new experiences and occasional discomfort, and now I face life with openness and confidence. I will use these qualities to continue growing, both academically and personally, in my college journey, unafraid to take on actions that my past self wouldn’t have taken.