Find Your Passion by Abigail

Find Your Passion by Abigail - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

Why is attending college important? Well it’s pretty simple. All you need to do is type “why is going to college important” into a Google search and you get your answer. According to Google, college graduates earn more money, are more likely to be satisfied with their job, are more likely to be married, are more likely to be homeowners, are less likely to face unemployment, and are more likely to live longer and healthier lives (Bogle). That's Google's answer; my answer is this.
I’ve always wondered why everyone expects us (students) to go to college, why not the military or the workforce; then my next question is what did they do? The reason behind that is because the majority of people go to college. Did you know that during the 2019-20 academic year colleges and universities are expected to award “989,000 associate's degrees, 1,975,000 bachelor's degrees, 820,000 master's degrees, and 184,000 doctor's degrees'' (“Fast Facts”). That's a total of 3,968,000 different degrees equaling almost 4,000,000 people. But what are others doing? Running their own businesses? I’m one of the majorities who believe that attending college is important because of a few simple reasons.
College increases your earning potential, teaches you the importance of networking, and expands your skill set. In the world we live in today it's essential that you go to college, not only to support yourself but also to explore new skills, and find your passion. For me, that passion is helping others.
I found my passion during a hard time in my life. This was how it started: The week started like no other but instead of hearing the clamping of paws on the kitchen floor, it was silent. When I came down I wasn’t greeted with slobbery kisses. Something was wrong; we immediately took her (Brandy) to the vet. The vet said to closely monitor her since she was an older and to call if she got worse. She didn’t get better, and the final day came. It was a Monday. All day I pondered the thought, “Is she really going to die?” At school I couldn’t focus, I was only thinking of Brandy.
That afternoon I walked off the bus feeling paralyzed. My legs became heavier as I approached the house. Both cars were in the driveway, and that meant bad news. That afternoon she passed away. It was October 16, the day before my birthday. Losing her taught me to see the good that comes in hard times. I realized in that moment just how lucky I am; lucky to have parents that support me, lucky to have an amazing, sweet brother, lucky to have a goofy sister, and lucky to have my teachers, classmates, teammates and coaches. They were anchors, and kept me grounded and supported me through everything. Just as they were my anchors, I want to be that anchor for others. Physical Therapy is just that, you get to see people are in their most vulnerable states and help them recover. Whether, that's helping them walk again or simple being there for them. I want to be the person that gives them hope and encouragement.
Many students go into college knowing some idea of what they want to pursue, however an “estimated 20-50 percent of students...enter college undecided” (Lieberman) and another “75 percentage of [college] students change their majors at least once before graduation” (Lieberman). Although some people may seem like they have their entire lives planned out, the chances of them knowing for sure are unlikely. Remember, college is where you find your passion in life. College is like a blank canvas, your freshman year you're given an apron because you're going to get messy and make mistakes. Sophomore year you’re given tools and instruction. Junior year you're given free rein of your canvas, and senior year your given total freedom with expectations; you have the freedom to create anything but by the end you are expected to reflect on your work. College is a place where you learn resilience, work ethic, and drive. Furthermore, college increases your earning potential, teaches you the importance of networking, and expands your skill set.

Works Cited

Bogle, Susan. "Top 10 Reasons Why College Is Important." Southern New Hampshire University, 2 Aug. 2017, www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/2017/08/why-is-college-important. Accessed 9 Apr. 2020.
"Fast Facts: Back to School Statistics." National Center for Education Statistics, nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372. Accessed 9 Apr. 2020.
Lieberman, Lexi. "Still Undecided? Here's How to Pick Your College Major." Study Breaks, 24 Aug. 2017, studybreaks.com/college/undecided-how-to-pick-college-major/. Accessed 9 Apr. 2020.