My History Experience by Abigaele

My History Experience by Abigaele - August 2017 Scholarship Essay

Junior Year was a very taxing and busy year for me. With 8 classes to juggle in both hands, I started to lose the enjoyment of school. Juggling 8 classes was a hard thing for me to handle since this was very new to me. This was all going to change as soon as I stepped foot into my U.S History Class.

When I first stepped into my U.S History Honors class, I stepped in with preconceived ideas. Hearing reports of the teacher who taught the class gave me deep regret of even taking U.S History Honors. Out of all the teachers at my school, she had the number one passing rate of students on the AP U.S History Exam. She was also portrayed as a very hard and mean teacher. She was portrayed to be a teacher that would throw tantrums and not let you even use the restroom. Not knowing the teacher myself, I wanted to get to know her before I had bad feelings about her. So, I entered in the door of mystery and sat in a seat.

Sitting in the class the first day, I could hear a pin drop. It was obvious that the class heard the same report about the teacher that I got, and were ready to get this year over with. The second day of class we were assigned homework. I worked my hardest and made sure everything that was written on the assignment was correct. My mother was even nice enough to check over the assignment. When I turned it in I felt confident that I would get an A, and the class was easier than I thought. When I finally got my assignment, I saw that I got C. It really hurt me and it proved that everything of this teacher that I heard was true. However, I was not ready to give up and let this little grade make me not try in this class anymore. I continued to work hard, take good notes and I studied the notes daily.

Getting into the second quarter of this class the teacher started to make the class a little more exciting and interesting to be in. She would make us students basically teach the class. She would give us all sub subjects of one unit to teach on. We were to go in front of the whole class and present what was on the posters that we made as a group. The shy person that I am this was a great challenge for me. Between the teacher's grading and me not being a good public speaker, I was scared to my stomach. However, the more I did it and the more I believed in myself, presenting in front of the class became as second nature to me. Because of this class, public speaking has been something that I really loved, and feel comfortable doing.

Getting the class to connect the previous history with history with today was very interesting. For example, she made a wonderful comparison between The New Deal and The Great Society. How they both helped improve the living situations of America as a whole. So to speak. She was also able to make a connection of what we studied two months ago to what we were studying at that moment. I gained a new perspective of U.S History through the telescope of the past. Showing that History is broad and something that is important.

Through perseverance, doing all my assignments, and persistent studying, I was able to receive an A for both Semesters. All I could do was praise the Lord and give Him thanks for this accomplishment. This class gave me a lot of confidence that I could do anything if I believed. Throughout the period of the class, the teacher became my best friend and favorite teacher. And I can safely say that I was her favorite student.

Because of the teacher, the class, and experience I can say that I would want to become a U.S History Professor at a college. I want to give my students the experience that my teacher gave me. She helped me see that it was possible to get an A in this difficult class if I put my mind and strength to do it. She also taught us the broadness of History in the past and in the future. I would want my students to know that they can do anything if they put their mind to it. If they believe they can grasp it and take it they can and will do it.