Finding My Own Path Amidst Change by Malia

Finding My Own Path Amidst Change by Malia - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

Growing up, I learned early on that life is like a puzzle, with each piece holds a lesson or an experience that is essential to the larger picture. Being the oldest child of three, I always found myself being a leader and role model for my two younger brothers. My father wasn’t a constant presence in my life; leaving my mom to carry the weight of taking care of our family. My mom, is a teachers aide and works with children of disabilities, she inspires me daily, showing me the importance of being compassionate, indefatigable, and forebearing. Watching my mom made me realize I wanted to help others, to teach, and make an impact on people just like she does daily.

The journey to finding my own identity began with my family and I moving from place to place, each state added a new piece to my life's puzzle. We had started in Colorado, then moved to Florida, and now for two years, I’ve been in Oklahoma. Every move gave me an opportunity to build a new part of myself, but also the challenge of adapting to different environments Moving from Florida to Oklahoma during my sophomore year was very challenging. It wasn’t easy breaking into inveterate friend groups and finding my place as an outside highschool sophomore, I often found myself as an outsider looking in. My love for learning and my determination to keep my grades good kept me grounded, however finding friends and fitting in was a greater struggle than I had anticipated.

From a young age, I struggled with understanding who I truly was, since each place I had lived in shaped me in a multitude of different ways. In Colorado I was intrigued by nature all around me, in Florida I became more outgoing, adapting to the vibrant cultures around me. Oklahoma now pushes me daily to become more resilient in unexpected ways. Each state had embedded unique characteristics within me, but it also made finding my own, consistent identity harder. I often felt as if I was adapting to each environment without ever fully figuring out who I was. As my senior year approached, the pressure to make sense of my future felt extremely overwhelming.

However something changed this year. I started to take charge of my journey by joining clubs and making friends who shared my passions as well as my values. I’ve finally felt what it means to build meaningful friendships, to find true friends, and to embrace the new and the old pieces of myself. I have realized that each place I have lived and each situation I have been put in added depth to my character and taught me to see the world through different perspectives. Just like a puzzle, the pieces may not seem to fit right away, and there are moments of frustration. But with patience and determination, you will see the bigger picture.

In choosing to attend the University of Central Oklahoma, I’m looking forward to continuing my journey of self discovery. I want to bring together the parts of my experiences in order to use them to guide me in a community that values growth, learning, and diversity. I am aware that I have more parts to add, but I also am aware that each new obstacle I face will ultimately create a complete and extraordinary picture-one that I can look back on with delight.