By Unigo
We’re excited to announce the winner of the Unigo Do-Over Scholarship. The question was, “If you could get one do-over in life what would it be and why?” Check out the winning essay, followed by scholarship tips from our winner.
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Winning scholarship essay
A letter to the one who should’ve been my first love:
I’m sorry about all of the times that I told you to change, thinking that if you did maybe I’d finally love you.
I’m sorry that I dismissed all of your dreams while trying to force you to grow up quicker.
I’m sorry that I never nursed your potential to be brilliant until you thought that it was too late.
I’m sorry that you had to watch me search for love and purpose in the approval and arms of others when you tried to offer me everything I needed.
I’m sorry I didn’t give you the respect you so deserved and that I didn’t teach you to demand it.
I’m sorry that I can’t undo the years I spent avoiding alone time with you or take back the lies I whispered in your ear, during moments of confidence, to remind you of who I thought you were.
I thank God that even without my love, and despite my neglect, you became a woman of strength and an inspiration.
I thank God that you never gave up on me.
I can’t wait to see what you become.
Love,
Yourself
Scholarship tips from our winner
How to find scholarships
There are many resources to help you find scholarships. You could search for scholarships using your preferred search engine, but this may be a little overwhelming. I would recommend using websites that find scholarships you are eligible for. My two favorite scholarship search websites are Unigo and Scholly. For scholarships that are specific to your school or region, it’s a good idea to ask your guidance counselor.
How to write a winning scholarship essay
First, I would like you to know that if the topic doesn’t excite you, you don’t have to write about it. There are so many scholarships, I’m sure you could find ones that address things you’re passionate about and will lead to an incredible essay.
My next piece of advice is to simply write a rough version of the essay and let it sit, untouched, for a day. This way you’re not overwhelmed by the expectation of every word being the perfect choice. Once you have a starting place, going back and revising is much easier and significantly less stressful.