Listening Well by Abigail

Listening Well by Abigail - February 2023 Scholarship Essay

It is widely known that Gen-Z people are the first generation to never know a world without technology. With Wi-Fi and social media at our fingertips we’ve become adept at sharing our opinions. However, we have too often found ourselves caught in the echo chamber and find it difficult to hear others' ideas as well as our own. If we are to make the most of our time at college and enter the workforce as compassionate, caring workers of our generation, we must focus on growing the soft skill of listening well.
When I think of a successful education, I picture an education where I am able to take my learning by the wheel and truly grow as a person so that I can have a successful career and life. It goes beyond just having good teachers, but relies on the engagement of myself as the student to succeed in my educational pursuits. By growing my listening skills, I will be able to accomplish this as it will impact my ability to learn well in an environment filled with other people who have differing opinions and ideas from me. I have implemented several ways of learning the skill of listening well, mainly by asking deeper questions and being more patient with others.
The soft skill of listening well further comes into play when impacting a successful education and in turn when growing as a person. I have been able to grow in highschool as a leader who recognizes my opportunities for growth and is proactive in addressing those challenges. Over the last four years serving as a leader in my school, I have recognized that being a great listener is an area where I have room for growth. I have become accustomed to sharing my opinions and ideas first due to the instant ability to do so within technology, especially around people who I disagree with or don’t have similar ideas to mine. I often disregard others' thoughts in both classroom settings and outside of school, but by working to become an active listener I can show respect for and interest in other’s thoughts while opening up opportunities to learn from one another. Several ways I have been working on growing in this area are by learning techniques such as listening without interrupting and trying to keep eye contact with whomever I am talking with. As I develop these skills, they will help me to work towards being a great leader and having a successful education wherever life takes me.