Everybody dreams of becoming something.

However, many times those dreams get

crushed, dragging your hopes and fantasies with them. Recently, I felt like I could fly when I was
nominated for the Posse scholarship. I felt invincible.
My whole life Ive been afraid of failure--failure to make my parents proud, failure to
withstand the family honor, failure to get into college, and failure of self. Ive been ambitious
ever since I was a little girl because my parents made me feel like everybodys eyes were on
me--I had to shine no matter what.
Unfortunately, I met face-to-face with my worst enemy again this year. With all my
accomplishments, I thought I was ready to face up to my arch nemesis, but, like always, it found
holes in my strengths. Failure knew it had a way to make me feel like nothing. When I was
nominated for the Posse scholarship I felt like nothing could touch me, like I had beat the elite
four in Pokmon and saved the world from all evil.
I went to my first interview and it was incredible. So many people united even though,
we were competition. It was such a beautiful feeling knowing that just a few hours ago we were
total strangers, but now laughed and talked as if we knew each other for years. It was a group
interview and I knew all of them were talented, skilled, and probably felt exactly as I did. This
lowered my confidence, but I knew perseverance was essential for my success.
We were to get our results by the end of the month, I anxiously awaited the response.
When I opened the email titled Youre a Posse Semi-Finalist my heart stopped, my eyes
flooded, and my smile gleamed radiantly. In that moment my fear of failure vanished. I told my
parents excitedly with my newfound confidence the news.
My second interview was to be one-on-one, and I was prepared. I walked into the office
in mid-October with my head high and radiating aura of positivity. This interview was less than
an hour, and it was exactly as I planned--very personal and opinionated questions. I breezed
through it, but when I walked out I felt somehow different. My fear was slowly creeping back in,
and as the days passed it increased. This time the results werent what I was expecting. My
enemy barked with laughter and it mocked my puny walls I built to keep it out. It raged through
me, destroying everything. It left me empty and with tears pouring out of my eyes as violently as
a thunderstorm. I no longer felt invincible or indestructible--I felt frail and hollow. Sadly, I knew
it was time to face my parents.
Their reaction was different than my expectations. My mom cooed that they were not
disappointed, they were proud of me. My dad started crying and apologized for initiating so
much pressure. They knew that I always try my best and that I made the family proud. No other
family member, not even in my extended family, had the burning passion to go to college like I

do. My parents knew that one way or another I was going to succeed and achieve my dreams. We
all cried, not because I failed, but because I had made it this far. They knew their mission was
finished. Instilling in me to never give up allowed my parents to make me stronger. I could
defeat anything in my way because here I am now, trying harder than ever to accomplish my
family and Is dream of going to college. Failure is no longer my fear because the only person
Im afraid of is I...of giving up on my dreams. But thats not possible; Ive learned that no matter
how many setbacks I endure that I can always persevere with hard work and dedication.