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Learning My Limits (College Essay)



zbilly06 1 / 4  
Sep 20, 2024   #1
If there was one piece of advice I could share with the world, it would be to embrace mistakes as opportunities for growth. This summer I came across a quote by Theodore Roosevelt that deeply resonated with me: "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Reflecting on this quote, I realized how it speaks to the importance of doing your best within your limits, something I had to learn the hard way. In the beginning of tenth grade, I overcommitted myself by taking on 15 hours of work each week, afternoon soccer practices, and a demanding course load, convinced I could handle it all without consequence. As the pressure mounted, I realized I was struggling to keep up with my assignments and mental exhaustion, recognizing I pushed myself too far. I hit a wall when I found myself unable to concentrate, overwhelmed by fatigue and frustration as my grades started to decline. Through the help of my family and friends I was able to learn some valuable lessons. Two of them are the most important lessons, as they are to know what your limits are, and to know when to overcome them.

What the first lesson taught me is to know that I am not superhuman. I tried to juggle soccer practices, Science Club meetings, and 15-hour work weeks on top of my schoolwork, but the constant grind took a toll. I often found myself staying up late, mentally drained, only to wake up exhausted the next morning. Recognizing that I was at a mental low, I understood it was time to reassess and make a change before things worsened. I reduced my work hours, which allowed me to focus more on my studies and rest. In doing so, I was able to evenly concentrate on all aspects of my life, and I have continued to do so since that day. This lesson has shown me that embracing my mistakes to learn what my limits are improves my character and provides unexpected clarity and resilience.

What the second lesson taught me is that I have to break out of my routine. Franklin D. Roosevelt has a quote that fits this lesson: "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." This quote encouraged me to keep pushing, even when I felt drained. One particularly difficult week, I balanced exams, soccer, and family obligations by prioritizing my tasks, creating a detailed schedule, and setting aside time to recharge each day. Knowing that I still had at least six years of schooling left, I knew all of the hours I had worked, the effort I put into sports, and the time I spent studying would pay off. While the time spent practicing and improving was temporary, the impact I have on the world will resonate for years to come.

These two lessons-knowing my limits and knowing when to surpass them-have become the foundation of my approaches to challenges. Now, when I feel overwhelmed, I pause and recalibrate, balancing my ambition with self-awareness. Yet, I continue to push myself, knowing that growth lies beyond my comfort zone. As I prepare to pursue a double major in computer science and computer engineering, I know that managing two rigorous majors will be a challenge, just like balancing my commitments in high school was. Both are demanding, and there will be times when I need to carefully manage my workload, stepping back when necessary. At other times, I will have to tackle complex problems that seem insurmountable. My experiences managing exams, soccer, family obligations, and work taught me that success isn't about avoiding mistakes, but learning from them-an approach that will shape my growth as a student and future engineer.

Holt  Educational Consultant - / 15439  
Sep 21, 2024   #2
Okay, this is an essay based on self-reflection. Using quotations from Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt will be considered cop-outs by the reviewer, who is looking for personal insight from you rather than an explanation based on other people's words. While their words may resonate with you, it is not a good descriptor for what you are actually going through. Their words will probably cover only 75% of what the reality of your situation was.

You glossed over the most important aspect of this discussion which is the results of your over reaching and lack of time management skills. Since you are looking to engage yourself in a double major for college, you need to show that you are capable of pulling out of a downward trend, which will probably happen in a double major course, and that you are capable of finishing the course within the given time frame for each course. Focus on how you understood the situation, the results of your actions, and the repair that you applied. Don't rely on the inspiration from other sources to insinuate that you dealt with the situation successfully. Show that you actually did it.
OP zbilly06 1 / 4  
Sep 21, 2024   #3
@Holt Thank you very much for the feedback I deeply appreciate it, if I post the revised version later would you be able to take a look at that as well? Yes, but you must make it URGENT then. Otherwise, please do NOT start a new topic or your account will be suspended
OP zbilly06 1 / 4  
Sep 22, 2024   #4
If there was one piece of advice I could share with the world, it would be to embrace mistakes as opportunities for growth. This summer, reflecting on my experiences in tenth grade taught me the importance of knowing my limits. I overcommitted myself by taking on 15 hours of work each week, afternoon soccer practices, and a demanding course load, convinced I could handle it all without consequence. As the pressure mounted, I found myself pulling all-nighters to catch up on assignments, which only led to further mental exhaustion and declining grades. One night, after hours of trying to study for my AP European History exam, I found myself paralyzed with frustration. The words blurred together, and I realized I was not just overwhelmed academically, but also emotionally drained, unsure if I could recover. With the support of my family and friends, I took the initiative to reflect on my choices. I realized that it was my responsibility to create a balanced life, and I actively sought solutions that allowed me to manage my time efficiently.

I learned two lessons, and the first lesson taught me to know that I am not superhuman. I tried to juggle soccer practices, Science Club meetings, and 15-hour work weeks on top of my schoolwork, but the constant grind took a toll. I often found myself staying up late, mentally drained, only to wake up exhausted the next morning. Recognizing that I was at a mental low, I understood it was time to reassess and make a change before things worsened. I decided to reduce my work hours from 15 to 7 each week. This change freed up time for my studies and allowed me to implement a structured study schedule, prioritizing assignments and setting specific goals for each subject. I was able to evenly concentrate on all aspects of my life, and I have continued to do so since that day. This lesson has shown me that embracing my mistakes to learn what my limits are improves my character and provides unexpected clarity and resilience.

What the second lesson taught me is that I have to break out of my routine. I learned that self-doubt could hold me back, and overcoming it was essential for pushing forward, even when drained. During one particularly difficult week, I balanced exams, soccer, and family obligations by prioritizing my tasks, creating a detailed schedule, and setting aside time to recharge. This strategy not only helped me manage my time effectively, but also strengthened my resilience against future challenges. I reminded myself that all of the hours I had spent studying and the effort I put into sports would ultimately pay off, reinforcing my belief in the importance of perseverance. This commitment to balance taught me that every experience-good or bad- contributes to my growth. While the time spent practicing and improving was temporary, the impact I have on the world will resonate for years to come.

Grasping my limits and knowing when to challenge them has reshaped my approach to life's challenges, allowing me to manage my commitments effectively. Now, when I feel overwhelmed, I pause and recalibrate, balancing my ambition with self-awareness. Yet, I continue to push myself, knowing that growth lies beyond my comfort zone. As I prepare to pursue a double major in computer science and computer engineering, I will apply the time management techniques I developed in high school. For instance, I plan to use detailed schedules, similar to those that helped me balance commitments in the past, and I will set aside regular time for self-care. This approach will ensure I maintain my well-being while effectively tackling complex coursework. Through managing exams, soccer, family obligations, and work, I've learned that true success comes not from evading mistakes but from embracing them. This mindset will continue to guide my journey as a student and future engineer, equipping me for the challenges ahead.

(Revised version, please let me know what to improve/expand on)


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