College Essay

Bill Gates once said “Its fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” It’s human nature to prefer the easier route over the long and complicated route. We often fail to realize that putting forth great effort into activities can result in a better outcome, until the deed is done. It took time, but eventually I learned this vital lesson.

I entered my freshman year of high school with such high expectations but low confidence. I was intimidated due to the way high school is portrayed on television and by what I saw my older siblings go through. But when I realized that it wasn’t as horrible as I imagined, I slowly let my guard down and became too comfortable. I began to affiliate with people whom, I now realize, weren’t there to help me but distract me. I started to procrastinate a lot and. I developed the attitude that I had all the time in the world. “Four years is such a long time”, I often said to myself. Eventually, I began to realize time was of the essence. What had seemed to me as “all the time in the world,” really turned out it wasn’t. It hit me that my time had almost run out.

At this point, I start to do a reality check. I even reflected on the success of other family members. For example, in my family, success and perseverance is crucial. We strive for the best and try to make it out the struggling world productively and fight the stereotypes and statistics of an average African-American. Our parent raised us on an elevated pedestal so many of our high expectations and goals derive from our parent. They taught us to strive for the best. Therefore, sometimes I saw my failures as a disappointment not only to myself but also my family. For instance, if I received a poor grade on work I completed, I’d feel a sense of guilt and frustration. The pressure of doing well and following in the successful footsteps of my older siblings was intense. My parent also pestered me about working to the best of my ability, and to...