“Who Cares if I’m Pretty if I Fail My Finals?” by Kayla - November 2018 Scholarship Essay (2024)

My senior yearbook quote would be "Who cares if I'm pretty if I fail my finals?" This quote is from an episode of Gilmore Girls, said by the main character Rory Gilmore. Rory says this to her mother while sitting at the kitchen table cramming for her senior year finals. I have always admired this quote as it is humorous and true, but it has become much more relatable to me this year as a senior. I have always done extremely well in school as a result of my hard work combined with my natural ability to easily pick up on the topics we are learning. The character of Rory Gilmore is similar, in that she makes all A’s and works hard throughout high school, as seen from her constant studying and references thereto. Taking 5 AP classes this year, I have had to work harder than I ever have before in high school, keeping up with the rigorous amounts of homework and understanding the content being taught at a fast pace. While there have been many times I have wanted to give up or let one assignment go I have remained persistent in my determination to keep my GPA and pushed myself to perform to the best of my ability. I believe this quote to be a reflection of the excellence Rory’s character had performed over the past four years and the incredible efforts in achieving that excellence. This line also shows that being intelligent matters more to her than her appearance. I feel this to be an important lesson all teenage girls should understand. When we focus on bettering our own selves rather than constantly comparing ourselves to others we tend to have more self confidence and can excel in our best areas. In conclusion, I have chosen this quote as it is a reflection of my dedication and hard work, not just in high school but in all aspects of my life, and my strong belief that self-image is more important than outward appearance.