Peter Tankard

College Essay

September 22, 2020

Succeeding Thru Failure

No cell service, spotty Wi-Fi, no food delivery, no Chick Fil-a or Starbucks, no Target or

Walmart, no movie theater or Rec Center. Could you live like this? Most teenagers would say, “no,” but

this was my reality. I grew up on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The Eastern Shore is a peninsula with a

population of 44,000 in 872 square miles. The main economic activities on “The Shore” (as it is called)

are farming and aquaculture. One of the most popular activities for young people is hanging out on

sandbars in the Chesapeake Bay. Fishing and hunting are also popular. Accessing uninhabited islands

with pristine beaches on the seaside necessitates a boat ride, but many young people have their own boat

before they have a car. The Eastern Shore’s scenery is beautifully untouched.

My family has lived on the Eastern Shore for generations. I attended my dad’s alma mater, a

small independent school, with my siblings and planned on graduating from high school there. However,

when I was ten years old we moved to the city of Virginia Beach, with a population of 450,000; ten times

what I was accustomed to! The transition from a small quaint town where I had a name for myself, to a

large city where I was a nobody, was not only intimidating and difficult, but also taught me many life

lessons.

I began sixth grade in Virginia Beach at a preppy collegiate school known for its rigorous classes.

Unlike the Eastern Shore, I didn’t know anyone and no one knew me. Being in a new environment and

having to make friends, adjust to city life, make good grades, and play soccer proved to be difficult. Out

of admiration and respect to my family, I felt that I owed it to them to make the transition work. With this

mindset I set forth to adapt to my new school setting, eventually making friends, getting good grades and

even playing on sports teams.

 In tenth grade I switched schools again and began to attend a large public school where there

were 500 people in my grade. Once again I found myself in a familiar situation; I did not know a soul.

This time though, I found it easier to make friends and participate in sports.

Transitioning from a school with a total of 300 students K thru 12, to a high school of 2000

students, I have learned this; change is good and often gives us a new perspective. ​Many people are

afraid of change. They are afraid to try new things, change careers, change habits, change ways of

thinking or even change their life for the better.​ ​I did not choose the changes in my life, however I've

embraced them with an open mind and they have brought about tremendous personal gro​wth.​ I have

become more self aware because of my experiences and have come to the conclusion that no matter what

we change or how we adapt, the fear of failure is what stops us from achieving our goals. Although the

word failure has a negative connotation, I believe that failure is the single best motivator and teacher.

Through experience, failure promotes growth and motivation. I have failed in sports, academics, and

relationships, but every single time I fail, I get back up and try harder.

Because of failure I have learned to be successful, and because I have succeeded in many

different environments and have met and learned from students from all walks of life, I anticipate that the

challenging transition to a college campus will be fairly smooth. Moving from a small rural farmland

community to a booming metropolis has not been easy but I have learned many priceless lessons through

the experience.