When I unexpectedly got nominated as temporary class president by my 8th-grade
adviser, I believe a part of me changed for the better. As a young teenager in high
school, I never really thought much of myself. I never aimed to be at the top of my class,
never wanted to bite off more than anything I could chew. I was satisfied with how I was
and never really desired to be anything more or anything less. But at that very moment, it
was as if something flipped a switch within me. I felt a strong sense of responsibility
and recognition of my potential to do more. For once in my life, I felt seen and was
comforted by the thought of someone believing in me.
Bringing that faith along with me, I put my best foot forward and eventually won the
official position of class president. The following school year, I did the same. The school
year after that, I managed to do it once again. On the next, next, next school year, my
batchmates were jokingly used to me running at that point. To this day, I am eternally
grateful to my adviser. She saw potential and never gave up on me, constantly
reminding me that there were people who truly supported and cared about me. With a
gentle nudge, I was able to explore my identity and broaden the horizons of my entirety.
As a leader, I was made familiar with the concept of sacrifice and understanding. I was
in a position where it was expected of me to solve possible conflicts, to provide
solutions for the problems at hand. It was my duty to prioritize the well-being of my
classmates and make decisions with them as my priority. I had to serve as their voice of
reason while simultaneously heeding to their every inquiry and call of concern.
Admittedly, it was a taxing job, and it did get too overwhelming for me to deal with at
times. But, I was content with knowing that I contributed to the progressiveness and
harmony of our class. All those years of being an officer shaped me into the person I am
today, and I wouldn't dare to think of things going differently other than the way they did.
Other than developing a set of leadership values, I was able to discover quite a few
things about myself, as well. I found out that I actually like studying, especially when I
devote my time and effort to deepening my understanding of the lectures. There were
times I managed to exceed my expectations and snag a couple of merit awards, but I
was never that consistent in doing so, causing internal conflict that made me doubt my
self-worth now and then. My inconsistency blurred how I perceived myself and my
performance as a student. Eventually, I learned to find meaning behind all my failures
rather than focusing on what I believed I lacked. From this epiphany, I realized that I had
to let go of the things beyond my control and be proud, knowing I did my best when I
could. With this mindset, I recognized my strengths and focused my energy on
improving my academic skills. In the middle of all the work, I managed to find meaning
in everything that mattered to me. I've made lifelong friends, lived through unforgettable
memories, and found peace and love with myself. These are the highs and lows in my
life that I am thankful for, the failures and successes that made me who I am.
As I'm approaching my college years, I'm well aware that I'm about to begin a new
chapter in my life. In college, I'm bound to experience various changes and challenges
that would test the limitations of my capabilities. Though I am scared, I am also
undeniably excited to start anew and discover my true purpose in life. As I type down
this essay, I hope to make the most of these years ahead of me, and I look forward to a
future where I am genuinely content and happy with what I've achieved.