UC experience essay?

<p>Yeah this isn't a full finished essay, but I'm just wondering if its a decent direction or if I should give up now. This is a DRAFT, obviously I will edit and make it better if I decide to use it. Also I would appreciate some advice on good topics/how to write a good essay rather than just shooting down my attempts.</p>

<p>Walking onto my high school campus for the first time, I was hesitant to say the least. I had a generous dose of self-consciousness due to the horror that is middle school, and I just felt plain awkward. To make matters worse, I had just been rejected from the school’s tennis team a week prior. There I was, moping and wishing I could sink into the sidewalk instead of start at a new school.
On the very first day at freshman orientation, when I begrudgingly admitted to my student leader that I didn’t really have any plans to join clubs or play a sport, she gave me a piece of advice that I’ll never forget: “Don’t be afraid of being uncomfortable - it’s the only way to grow.” That statement hit me hard. I’ve always been introverted by nature, and when people would tell me to be outgoing, talk to people, and get involved, I would shrug it off and think, that’s just not me. I liked my comfort zone, and I was perfectly content staying inside it.
However, her rephrasing of that stale cliche allowed me to think of it in a whole new way. I shouldn’t restrict myself to things that I’m familiar with, or I’ll never be experiencing new things. Instead of limiting myself to those lists that say “Best Hobbies for Introverts,” I started thinking about the best hobbies for me. Slowly but surely, I began joining sports and signing up for clubs that I never would’ve taken a second glance at. Thanks to that seventeen year old girl and her advice, my high school experience has been so much more enjoyable and I’ve challenged myself to be more than I ever thought.</p>