A Failing Masterpiece by Adnan

A Failing Masterpiece by Adnan - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

“An A-? How in the world did I get an A-? I got a 100% on the final, and I also had the best art piece for the last project. I calculated my grade and it should be well above an A-” I said. “Well, your art piece was good, but you did not fulfill all the requirements. The rubric says that you have to consult me so I can give you advice on your self-portrait. You were then supposed to use this advice and improve your work” Mrs. Brennan said. “But…I also did the extra credit part where you create an additional paper mache piece. Did that not count for anything? ” I said. “It did, but that was not the main part of the assignment. Look, don’t be upset with me. You were supposed to read the assignment sheet carefully. Don’t make such a mistake next time” Mrs. Brennan said. “There is no next time. The semester is ending next week” I said with a sad face. “I’m sorry, but that’s the way things are” Mrs. Brennan said firmly.

Introduction to Art was the last class I thought I would receive below an A in. I took some of the hardest classes that year such as Honors Science, and it was Art that prevented me from getting a 4.0. Of course, I was very upset that day. To me, everything had to be perfect, but Mrs. Brennan taught me something very important. It was a lesson I still value a lot today. Everything has rules such as that one Art assignment. It is following those rules that will get you an A. But are such rules that important? Did the rule to consult my teacher really show any proficiency in my Art skills? Perhaps, but why does that matter? Will such a score affect my future? I am sure I won’t look back on that day 30 years from now and be haunted by the fact that I received an A-. Mrs. Brennan did not teach me to study even harder for the future. She taught me that life is short and failure isn’t something that should stop me from enjoying it.

Education wouldn’t be fun at all if it were all about the grades. Society is functioned in a way that learning is some kind of boring work. It had made school seem like a job: one that you cannot fail in. It is a job where you have to get an A+ in every single subject and perform outstandingly in all the extracurricular activities the school provides. Everyone has high dreams of going to the best universities such as Stanford or Harvard. This is not a bad thing for it encourages people to work hard, but one starts to forget enjoying life itself. They put too much importance on grades which are really just a small part of our lives’.

When I was younger, I used to always take walks with my father. We would drive to Chambers Bay and talk about various topics such as sports, nature, and even philosophy. When I went to high school, I spent very little time with my father because I was too busy taking the hardest classes. My father would ask me every day, “Hey Adnan! Let’s go for a walk.” My reply was always, “Sorry dad. I have to study.” When should study come in the way of family? I cherished the walks I had with my father. They were so relaxing especially when I saw the whole Puget Sound.

Mrs. Brennan showed me not to let go of such activities. She showed me to never let go of the fun in life. Balance school with many other interests. If I never learned this important lesson from Mrs. Brennan, I would not be taking walks with my father. Instead, I would have chained myself to a desk learning every single poly-atomic ion in Chemistry.