Overcome by Otto

Overcome by Otto - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

Have you ever felt like nothing could tear you down? I didn’t feel that way during my freshman year. I skipped breakfast because I was so nervous about school. Coming out of middle school, Covid and my parents’ divorce, I felt awkward. I would hide behind my hair. Since then, a couple changes now make me feel like no matter what happens or how different I am, I can confidently overcome anything.
My freshman year, I had long straight hair that fell to my chin. I felt that if I didn’t see them, they wouldn’t see me. I felt like it buffered the busy halls, cold classrooms and stares that I would imagine. I was constantly worried about how it looked. That summer I made the spontaneous decision to buzz my head. No guard just clippers. My mom was out of town, and I just did it. I went from mop to tennis ball. After that change, I didn’t care what people thought. I realized that how I perceive myself is how others perceive me. If I did something with confidence, others would see that and respect it. This helped me overcome my social image but interacting was more difficult.
I had nothing to talk to people about. I would avoid social conversations with anyone just because I couldn’t keep it going, it would be radio silence after they talked to me. This led me to explore. I went back to my roots and began expanding my skills as an artist. I would draw and paint. Then, getting in tune with my environment, I started doing Bonsai. I would take advantage of New Mexico and go rock climbing on the weekends. I expanded my music taste from classic rock to old Hip Hop, Motown, Alternative, Indie, Country, Jazz and far more. I also focused on what I had loved since a child; mechanics. I began researching cars and eventually bought three 1980’s cars. I fixed them, modified them, drove them, and learned how they work. It’s difficult swapping a diff in the snow, but I love the feeling that I got driving it for the first time. I take pride in what I do and try to reflect this onto my hobbies.
During the freshman to sophomore summer, I realized how much being present could affect something. Tutoring math at the Anansi Charter school helped further this. I realized that being there for students could help give them confidence. This clicked one time when a student wanted to stay later because they fully got it. If I made them believe that they were accepted, they would be. Not only did I get the experience of helping them love learning, but I also got to see them grow as people. I see how I've grown and try to help people learn on their own. On the other hand, working at a restaurant with mostly older customers showed me how much being present would affect how they view me. If I put that little extra effort into my work, they didn’t see me as a busboy, but as an astute young man who cared about what he did. I began talking to more people. If I believed that I fit in, other people believed it too. I made the best friends I've ever had. Me finding out who I was makes me feel like nothing could tear me down.