“Fearless”: without fear; bold or brave; intrepid. I’ve never felt fearless. In fact, quite the opposite. I’ve had anxiety since freshman year, working against a constant need for perfectionism in all aspects of my life.
Dealing with anxiety has been a constant battle for me, but I’ve come to realize that it doesn’t need to hold me back. In fact, my anxiety has taught me to be compassionate, understanding, and resilient. It has also taught me that being fearless doesn’t necessarily mean never feeling afraid, but instead acknowledging my fears and pushing through them. I learned to take risks, even if I am scared, and to trust myself and my own abilities. As I move forward in my life, I am determined to continue growing, learning, and striving to be fearless in pursuit of my dreams.
I owe everything to the people who supported me these past 4 years. My friends, it has been the greatest gift to grow up with you. My family, who tolerated my dramatics and always encouraged me to do my best, and my teachers, whose constant support kept me going.
This fall, I will be attending the Honors program at Fordham University in New York City on a full-ride scholarship. Without the scholarship, I would never have even considered moving out-of-state, much less New York City. But the opportunities offered not only in the city but at the school excite me. I will be 2,948 miles from Campbell, from my family, from everything I’ve ever known. I am hardworking, stubborn, passionate, and really (REALLY) bad at reading maps. But I’m ready to take on whatever comes my way, jumping “head first, fearless.”