Fall 2026 Winner of the Perseverance Scholarship

Jason Augustynski

A soon-to-be college freshman and engineering major, Jason has been selected as the newest recipient of the Perseverance Scholarship. Jason has been a dedicated and engaged student throughout his high school career, and we know this commitment will only continue at university. Congratulations!

Read Their Essay Here:

One step too far, then the fall - a broken leg hit hard, shaking more than bones. Suddenly ordinary vanished, replaced by stillness and limits nobody saw coming. A shift unfolded slowly, not loud but deep, reshaping how effort feels and what patience means. Movement stopped, yet thinking sped up, circling new ways to handle setbacks without rushing past them. Freedom slipped away for weeks, tasks became hurdles, even small ones. Still, something grew beneath the frustration - focus, grit, a clearer view from lower ground. These pieces now fit into who I am becoming, especially when paths ahead demand endurance.

Out of nowhere came a sharp pain - one moment fine, next bent double. Then everything shifted. Moving around? Not so simple now. School felt miles away, even standing up needed planning. Crutches became constant companions, doctors regular visitors. Rules piled up: rest, wait, repeat. Independence slipped through my fingers like sand. Frustration settled in before I noticed it. Used to doing everything myself, leaning on someone else at first seemed like defeat. Yet slowly it dawned on me - getting support wasnt failure, just how recovery works sometimes.

Staying current with school proved tough when recovery took priority. Classes skipped meant work piled up fast - yet that setback never became an excuse to slow down. Instead, messages went out to instructors; tasks were requested early, just in case. Hours at home shifted toward reading, notes, quiet focus. Effort stretched longer than usual, simply because it had to. Planning each day tightly helped keep grades steady. Pushing through built something solid: routine, control, patience. Learning happened beyond textbooks that term. Most days blurred together at first, yet slowly I built a rhythm that worked. Sticking to it wasnt always easy, still I learned how to follow through. College wont hand you reminders, instead you need to stay ahead on your own. Freedom shows up only when discipline does too.

Stillness tested my thoughts just as much as my body. Frustration crept in now and then, particularly when gains seemed invisible or friends moved around like nothing happened. Yet attention drifted toward tiny wins instead of quick fixes. Putting pressure on the injured leg, later standing unaided - each flicker of change whispered that sticking with it matters. That quiet reframe built something steady: slower reactions, firmer resolve.

Each morning, movement became a quiet kind of promise. Showing up mattered more than how I felt. Some hours dragged under sore muscles, yet staying away meant losing ground slowly. Missing just once would ripple forward. Patience grew not from waiting, but from doing - repeatedly, without applause. Gains came in steps too small to notice until they added up. What looked like routine built something deeper over time.

Looking back, that moment shifted something deep inside. Obstacles once felt like walls stopping progress. Today they feel more like puzzles waiting to be solved. A broken leg dragged me into unknown territory. New abilities showed up there, unplanned yet real. Adjusting became natural when plans collapsed. Pressure did not erase hope. Focus stayed steady even when paths got rocky.

Getting ready for college means dealing with harder classes, less free time, stronger pressure. Still, what Ive been through lines up well with what comes next. When things get heavy, I find ways to keep moving without burning out. Asking others for support shows up as strength, not weakness. Pushing forward, especially when motivation fades, becomes normal. Staying focused despite distractions builds steady progress over time. Independence matters more now, yet knowing limits helps just as much. Handling tasks on my own fits into a bigger pattern of growth. College life rewards those who adapt quietly, consistently.

One day down the road, when Im deep into work in tech or engineering, whatll matter most is staying steady through tough puzzles. Getting hurt showed me how to break big issues into smaller ones, sit with discomfort without rushing, then keep moving anyway. A slow win still counts as progress, even if it doesnt feel like one at first. When projects go sideways later on, I wont forget how much quiet strength came from those long recovery days. It wasnt about bouncing back fast - it was learning to move forward unevenly. What sticks isnt the fall but the way you rise each time.

Looking back, snapping my leg wasnt something I saw coming, yet it pushed me into growth I didnt expect. Toughness built slowly, focus sharpened, views shifted without warning. A moment that seemed to stall everything turned into quiet training for what comes next. Hard times dont always stop progress - sometimes they hide new paths forward.