Can someone please read my short essay and tell me what you think? Any input is appreciated.

Can you please read my short essay and tell me what you think? feel free to give your honest opinion.

When I look back at my childhood, I can recollect how much I've grown not only physically, but also mentally. Throughout the small portion of my life that I have lived I've faced and conquered adversity, and this has helped shape me into the courageous person that I am today.

As a child, my parents and teachers worried about my educational development. They didn't know if I would be able to keep up with the other children, because I had started school a year early. I was in the third grade, and I was struggling with every subject. My teachers contemplated having me held back a year, so I would have more time to develop. But even as a third grader, I was determined not to quit. I pleaded with my parents to not have me held back and promised to improve my grades. As time passed, I kept my word and was able to better my grades with the help of some after-school tutoring. Even though my grades were now on par with those of my classmates, I still wanted to improve so I could reach my full potential. I now carry this mentality with me through life and attack any obstacles that arise with a spirit of excellence. By applying this mindset into my life I have been able to make many academic accomplishments, including being inducted into the Honor Society 1 and Honor Society 2, being awarded Academic Department Award for Economics in high school, making the Presidents List at ********* College, and being on the honor roll many times throughout middle and high school.

Another challenge that I worked hard to overcome was making the basketball team. I started getting serious about playing basketball after I was cut from the team several times in middle school. When this happened, I vowed to myself to practice every day until I became the best player that I could be. I went to work and practiced hours on end to better myself. Being cut from the team so many times and practicing hard enabled me to walk into tryouts with confidence when I was in the 10th grade. I knew I was one of the best and I made the team, but I didn’t stop there. I kept working hard and made the varsity team in 11th grade. I was not satisfied with the way I played during my junior year so I fixed some holes in my game and came back my senior year even better. I improved so much that I was able lead my team and become one of the leading scorers in my district. After my senior basketball season ended, I was honored as an All-Conference player.

I believe it is better to experience a moment of discomfort on the road to achieving of your dreams than to be comfortable without accomplishing your dreams at all. That is why I view the setbacks in my life as a staging point for a courageous comeback. The setbacks I experience in my life only enable me to come back stronger. I believe with hard work and determination you can accomplish anything if you continue to have courage and persevere.