National Honor Society Essay Examples

I’m handed a small, flat envelope and a crushing sense of incompetence. Squeals of joy filled the room as a number of my peers discovered that they had been accepted into National Honor Society, their thick envelopes still fresh with the smell of accomplishment. Failures are a part of life, and, big or small, they shape our character by the way we pick ourselves up afterward. National Honor Society meant more for me than just the title; it was a chance for me to prove my worth and challenge myself to reach new limits. Coming from the city of Paterson, New Jersey, a community renowned for its polluted streets and frequent gang violence, I formed my determination to rise above the standards of my environment. As such, not being admitted into such this prestigious organization led me to believe that I was not capable of more. I had met all of the criteria except for one—demonstrating academic leadership—which, consequently, led me to call into question everything I was doing and whether or not my time was being wasted. I noticed that, among everything else I had to juggle with at the time, I was overwhelmed with caring for my three siblings, practicing karate every day, maintaining my involvement in my local church, and keeping my grades high: responsibilities I held that I …show more content…
The following months passed, and I began to reflect on the significance of this setback and what it meant for my own character. Maybe I didn’t deserve to be accepted, but one truth was undeniable; I had put all of my effort into my application. My dedication and commitment to tasks, both inside and outside the classroom, helped me to cultivate the skills needed to succeed in challenging situations, to face the unknown in the future. Every obstacle in life could be seen as a reason to admit defeat or, on the other hand, an opportunity to overcome and learn from. If I had been accepted on that day, it’s possible that I never would have learned that