Resilience's Power by Miri

Resilience's Power by Miri - July 2024 Scholarship Essay

The most significant lesson I’ve learnt this year is of resilience’s unwavering power. Life has thrown me countless obstacles, yet it is because of these obstacles that I have found the inner fortitude to overcome them.
As a child, I survived extensive abuse at the hands of my third-grade teacher. I developed a phobia of teachers, severe PTSD, and a dissociative disorder. Although this left me with long-lasting scars, it also gave me the drive to pursue justice and uplift those surviving in silence. I have spent many hours on hallway-echoed phone calls with authorities after dismissing myself from class. I fight for the missing accountability. I am determined to spare others from this, from the silent sobs and terrifying reports.
When I became ill and entirely dependent on a wheelchair, I felt as though everything had fallen apart once again. The school’s harsh punishment for “truancy” only flared my phobia and dissociative disorder. I had no choice but to enter intensive therapy. Rather than giving in to hopelessness, I decided to accept my situation. I didn’t allow my deterioration to limit my goals or define who I could be like others had attempted to.
Resilience became my compass. I took control of my education and sought information from all sources rather than retreating. My classes were the internet and the public library when my school told me it was impossible for a physically disabled person to take their advanced courses. Motivated by a strong desire to learn and a resolute will to overcome obstacles, I threw myself into courses I adored
My road has not always been solitary. I’m still haunted by a close friend’s suicide in late elementary after they experienced similar abuse. Memory of their passing serves as a continual reminder of life’s brevity, and only emphasizes how crucial community and support are. I try to be a ray of hope for other people in their honor. I’ve encountered opposition when trying to start advocacy organizations at my school—unsurprisingly related to illegal inaccessibility—but I’m steadfast in my belief that inclusive environments are essential for the success of all students, including those with disabilities and those who have faced abuse.
I overcame every difficulty I encountered through resilience. My work in public museum internships, as a student research mentor, and as a researcher at biochemistry laboratories are examples of my refusal to let my immediate surroundings limit me. Perseverance can force open doors that are being held closed. Resilience has finally allowed me to contribute to my community and my passions in STEM.
The ability to transform hardship into advocacy is the most valuable teaching resilience has passed on to me. My experiences have strengthened my need for change-making. My experience with resilience has taught me that we can rewrite our stories, overcome ineffable obstacles, and build a future shaped by our potential rather than our constraints.
Resilience will remain my compass going forward. I will keep this lesson in mind while I work toward a degree and a career in scientific research, leveraging my experiences to promote diversity and creativity in my profession. I aim to positively impact the world by removing obstacles and empowering individuals to never give up hope.
Resilience is proof of the human spirit’s ability to persevere, adjust, and thrive—it is more than merely a lesson I have learned. It has influenced who I am. It will affect who I become. I’ve discovered that resilience teaches me how to not just live, but to thrive— to not just exist, but to unashamedly stand my ground while surrounded by those that don't believe I am worthy of taking up space.