The Pull of English by Alexis

The Pull of English by Alexis - October 2016 Scholarship Essay

“What gives people power in Sold?”
The students shift in their seats, and the atmosphere hums with a contemplative mood. The swish of papers fly through the air as they search through their copies of the book and their notes for the question to the answer. Perris, a girl whose strong-willed attitude made up for her lack of height, raised her hand. Ms. Simon’s eyes flickered with anticipation as she called Perris’ name.
“Perris?”
Perris sat up straighter in her seat as she prepared to strike the match that would ignite the flame of the discussion.
“The men in Lakshmi’s village have power because of their religion and culture.”
And with that sentence the discussion came alive. Students stoked the discussion with their opinions. I stood in the back of the room taking notes of the students’ answers. When the conversation began to lull, I rose my hand, and Ms. Simon called my name. She was eager to hear what her Student Assistant Teacher had to say on the matter, and I was eager to keep the flames from dying out. These discussions always made my heart pound with excitement.
I love English class, and my friends jokingly refer to me as an “English Major.” I love the in-depth discussions that rise when people interpret things differently, the fact that there is not always a right or wrong answer, the intricate dance that is weaving together words to form a paper, the analysis that comes with reading a book for class (Was the color of Gatsby’s car a symbol for wealth and the American dream, or did Fitzgerald just want to give a description?). My love for English could create a paper rivalling the length of The Odyssey.
My love for English has driven me to become a tutor for the Writing Center at my high school. This year was the first year I was eligible to become a tutor, and I enthusiastically leaped onto the offer given to me. The instructor of the Writing Center taught me a couple of years ago, so my application was no surprise to her. I have also become a Student Assistant Teacher to an English class at my school. The Student Assistant Teacher Program at my school gives students the opportunity to sign up to become, basically, an assistant teacher for a teacher and class of their choosing. My admiration for English pushed me through my hesitation and drove me to apply to work with a former English teacher of mine, Ms. Simon.
My fondness towards English compels me to explore many opportunities and inspires a desire in me to teach the subject.