Undergraduate / Defeated ego (undergraduate essay) [2]

Please write the personal statement with a focus on what you learned from and felt during curricular and/or extracurricular activities (up to three) to which you attached meaning and devoted yourself in high school.(within 1500 characters/200words) (Required)

Throughout my teenage years, I practiced judo, following a family tradition of grapplers. Initially, I joined the club due to family pressure, as wrestling was a generational legacy. While I wasn't particularly interested in competing, the competitiveness of my friends pushed me to appreciate and love the sport even more. Despite my best efforts, I didn't win a match until 8th grade.

The frustration of constant failure, even after a year of intense training, took its toll. I remember stepping onto the tatami feeling confident, only to freeze once the match began, resulting in another early loss. That moment broke me. I was angry, disappointed, and felt utterly defeated. My coach urged me to step up and mature, which made me realize my issue wasn't a lack of training but an inflated ego. I had fooled myself into thinking I was ready.

From then on, I shifted my mindset. I no longer trained just to hit milestones. I trained until the word "enough" no longer existed for me. I learned that true success comes from genuine love and dedication to one's craft. The outcome was life-changing. Now, I'm committed to my goals with relentless effort, always giving my best in everything I do