A glimpse into my overcoming hardships, growth, and self discovery over the past years. Reflecting back when I was younger, I remember the feeling of being a different type of student than the rest of my peers. I remember those days in elementary school where I would be pulled out of class into a smaller group with other kids who struggled with a learning disability. I don’t think receiving special education services/ an IEP was a point of weakness but rather a point of challenging myself rather and not letting it define me for who I am. Discovering about my learning disabilities allowed me to understand more about myself as a learner and helped me explore ways of being a more efficient student. Once senior year started, I no longer needed an IEP. This was probably a really impacting experience in my life, and it only further proved all of my personal growth throughout my life, not just academically but on a deeper level, I proved to myself that despite having a learning disability I was capable of accomplishing great things, taking rigorous courses, and overcoming hardships. I overcame the misconception that students with learning disabilities or IEPs are less intellectual and this was a moment of personal growth for me My personal growth also took more initiative when I began to outgrow old versions of myself and step out of my comfort zone. I dissociated myself from old habits, beliefs, and behaviors and set new goals and values for myself. As I’m evolving into adulthood, and soon be graduating, it makes me reconsider what version of myself I want to see and become. The self-awareness and self-reflection that comes along with growth is an experience to embrace; this is maturity. My empathy is a gift that I have come to embrace and consider a gift from my personal growth at a very young age, understanding different viewpoints and experiences seems to come very easily to me and I understand the importance of having empathy for others, the stability of stronger relationships, expanding my perspectives and viewpoints on situations and emotions. Life is all about trial and error and facing your fears head on. I once feared failure but I asked myself who am I? If I'm not willing to embrace the mistakes, setbacks and hardships throughout my life. I probably wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for wanting it enough, for wanting to prove to myself, that battling these struggles is personal growth and that I could only continue to move on forward when challenges are thrown my way, this is why it’s called personal growth. I no longer focus on what I could've done differently but rather I focus on what I can do differently now at this very moment, and what I can continue to improve on. We live in the present, see me and hear me when I say we are allowed to acknowledge our pasts, however we cannot live in the past to live in the future, therefore we must live in the moment. I no longer let my fear of failure scare me away from taking control of my life. I’m extremely grateful for all the opportunities i have been provided, it has helped me grow into the person I am today, the journey of self discovery I experienced throughout the years. The Club has always been a part of my life, watching me grow up. I’m extremely excited to start college, I know that it’ll be a great experience for me. I feel excited about this new chapter.