A Time When I've Failed And What I Learned From It

Last spring, I was given the opportunity to join the Forty Acres Scholarship Program. I was extremely grateful to be considered a finalist; only around 60 are chosen from the thousands of UT Austin applicants. All finalists were invited to attend a weekend where we mingled with successful alumni, attended motivational speaker series, visited the DKR field, and even got to take pictures with our mascot, Hook 'Em. On the last day, we had our final interviews, which would greatly influence our selection. I was nervous, but I felt excited and prepared.

Ultimately, I was not chosen for this opportunity. I was reasonably saddened, but I knew that I had just gained very valuable experience in networking and professionalism. This taught me that we may not always get what we wish for, but all things will come with time and persistence. Luckily, my determination led me to eventually receive a full-ride scholarship and cohort from the Texas Leadership Scholars Program. If I had not understood that it takes failure to grow, I would never have been blessed with this opportunity.