How My Mistakes Have Shaped Me

For the longest time I did not know how to write a creative college essay that would get me into the best universities and I was totally overthinking it, but I finally understood that there is no point in finding a perfect gripping story. Every person is unique and if I show myself in the essay, then the essay will be unique as well. I know most people write about their perks or moving life stories, while I want to tell about the mistakes I made because nothing shaped me as much as them. I know I am not perfect. Nor is this essay but, at least, these are my real thoughts.

I used to sleep for 4-5 hours a day. I would study until the morning, go to school, do some sports, start preparing for classes and olympiads, go to sleep, and wake up at midnight - the process repeated again day after day. Even though this lifestyle taught me discipline and I was able to be ahead of my peers, it has had its consequences. I was exhausted, struggling with the amount of homework I had, various olympiads in which I participated, and extracurricular activities I undertook. I didn’t know how to manage my life. Due to this, I had little interaction with friends and family because I was asleep while they were active and vice versa. I was insulted that my parents, people without higher education, would give me advice on how to study or criticize my schedule. I was bitter. I could neither spend time with close ones not listen to them. Because of my intense focus on school and life, I alienated myself from those the closest to me.

A lot has changed since then. I recently participated in an exchange year in Americam with the help of a grant from the U.S State Department. What I’ve gotten ot experience is the mindset of Americans which has taught me that sorting out priorities was the key to success. In America I’ve learned the ropes of a regular student with a consistent schedule and woke up at 5:30 , went to school, swam , met with friends, did homework, Skyped with my parents, and still managed to have some time to myself. I still had challenging tasks: learning how to swim “butterfly”, studying AP English and Composition, and participating AP Calculus BC. My goal then was to cherish the small moments of my life. I had to change because just studying can make a person smarter but it wouldn’t necessarily make him happier. The first step was socializing more. I had to get the courage to start a conversation, still a little embarrassed of my accent. By the end of the year I valued time with friends, trips to New York or Boston, and food, especially everything I bagel. I finally had this perfect balance between study and rest.

After coming back home I faced some personal obstacles. I had little idea of what my true purpose in life was. A gap year sounded like a perfect choice for me, whereas many considered it as a waste of time. During my two years of working as an English teacher, I have become even more independent from my parents. Living alone in a big city, I understood how parents made my life easier and I owe a debt of gratitude to them. My family is now my priority. Also, through volunteering, sharing knowledge and helping students, I can see my goal: giving back to the society. I no longer think only about personal gain and academic excellence but I find something that is more important - community. I know everyone talks about making a change but I believe that no idea will work until the person himself does the work to fulfill that goal.