The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

I am not sure who said, “The best way to escape from your challenge is
to find a solution,” but it surely appeals to me. The word “challenge” is inseparably connected to the word “solution.” Challenges, like solutions, appear to come in all shapes and forms. For some it could be as trivial as not having enough sugar in a cupcake for the child’s class or something more serious such as getting a call from the space saying, “Houston, we have a problem.” Regardless of their depth, everyone encounters them.

My memory does not serve me well regarding how I got into it, but I loved playing soccer. I would either play every day or constantly think about it. Studies were fun but soccer was serious. By middle school, I was playing competitive soccer, traveling with my team around North Carolina and winning tournaments. As a striker, I naturally bore the pressure from my teammates to score the goals. Years went by and I started developing a problem. Asthma. In summer of 2017, allergies kicked in pretty badly, worsening my asthmatic condition. My parents figured I would do better indoors with less exposure to springtime elements. Nevertheless, I was adamant, insisting on carrying nebulizer treatments to the field, hoping to get a quick respite from the short breaths and wheezing lungs. In the US, about 8% of children under 18 suffer from asthma, and outdoor air quality is one of the primary triggers. Severe restrictions from outdoor activities were associated with springs and summers.

While trying to manage asthma, another problem emerged. My height. It appeared as though I was shrinking when my teammates were all growing taller. By early high school, I was often the shortest player on the soccer field. As a striker, I increasingly found it harder to outmaneuver the bigger defenders. That I was getting better on the field did not help the situation, as my opponents would get annoyed and start fouling me deliberately. With bottled up anger, I often sat out and watched my team play, staring in the face of twin obstacles over which I had no power. Obviously, my ability to perform well started to drop and I wondered if I was becoming a liability to the team. In 2018, in the off-season, having assessed my health situation I realized that giving up competitive soccer was the best choice. So, I revised my perspective for the overall good of my team.
Sometime between my frequent asthma attacks and tenth grade, I started to coach and mentor middle schoolers. As a FRC Business Co-Lead at InspireNC, a non-profit organization that coordinates outreach and volunteering events in robotics and STEM related activities in Triangle area, I work with the young teens on grant-writing, coordinating outreaches, identifying potential sponsors, and giving presentations to judges at FIRST® robotics competitions. In the last 3 years, InspireNC raised $44,000 and I am honored to have contributed to its success.

While, I grudgingly gave up competitive soccer, I was consoled by playing recreational soccer and mentoring young kids. This is tremendously satisfying as it involves community building and gaining experience with middle school kids. Although asthma placed limitations on me, I learnt to accept what I have no control of. Now, as a freshman at Temple University, the learnings over the years helped me cope effectively during the COVID times and staying away from family and doing well in school. I firmly believe that the true solution cryptically lies in our ability to comprehend and decipher our obstacles. My newfound insight is that problems are perhaps nothing but opportunities waiting to be converted into solutions. This has definitely been the biggest learning so far in my life.

(Editor: This is a college application essay to UNC from Temple University. Please edit the essay to fit into no more than 650 words)

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