Thank You Mrs.Bartus by Alexis

Thank You Mrs.Bartus by Alexis - July 2023 Scholarship Essay

My biggest failure in my educational journey was not appreciating the people that were supporting me. As I began to realize how much people were aiding in my success I came to be thankful for those in my life who are rooting for me. To truly show gratitude for those in school and at home that want the best for me. The realization of this failure occurred when I moved high schools, from Minnesota to California, and experienced a new world of schooling and learned how to become independent in a public school system; how to also root for myself.
Growing up in Minnesota I went to school everyday, the entirety of my K-12 education was going to be through the same district, so I thought. Then during my junior year of Covid high school, my father told my family we were moving to California. Once I moved, the idea of easily completing my initial education with familiar staff and my friends in an area I lived in all my life went out the window. I continuously hit roadblocks I did not know existed while moving and trying to maneuver to a new life and new school. While I can tell you countless times where I did not appreciate someone enough despite their endless support, this failure comes more specifically from my high school counselors or quite possibly the lack thereof.

As I was moving, my counselor in Minnesota gathered all necessary information and paperwork to rightfully send me to a new school, making sure registration was complete etc. She never failed to make me feel comfortable and confident despite relocating to somewhere I had never been before. She offered tips and resources for me, showed me nothing but kindness and sent me off with a smile. This, I took for granted, my biggest failure.

Once I left, arriving at my new school, even my new home quickly became a disaster. While Minnesota was doing well during Covid, California was not, meaning school was now Zoom school. Within the first week my family was evacuated from our new house due to fires, a true representation of the beginning of my new life.

I have always been ahead in my schooling, knowing I would go to college I wanted to take college classes while in high school. My Minnesota counselor was helping me do so before leaving, but coming into a new school I had to restart the process. I researched my options and read the entire website making sure I understood as much as I could. Then I went to my California counselor to begin the application process, however he was clueless, sending me back to the website I had just read. This was simply the introduction to this new support system, where I quickly learned how to take matters into my own hands. Completing registration and starting college myself.

From dual enrollment classes, to which credits I had to pack in to meet new graduation requirements, to summer school, to sports schedules, to why despite meeting the marks not receiving cords I earned, the challenges with this new counselor never seemed to cease. This very quickly made me realize how much I took my previous support system for granted, feeling alone in this new one. However, this also shaped me into the student I am today.

I am the person I am today because of these experiences and what I have learned to take away from them. That being said, I still could not have done it without the support I received throughout my education and still today as well. I have learned how to represent myself and ask for what I need, how to research and answer my own questions, how to build new relationships, how to help others, and so much more. But really, I simply learned how to become an advocate for myself. I have since learned to be so thankful for this lesson in life, how to show gratitude for my past self who struggled to become who I am today, to express my thankfulness to those supporting me, and even for those who put me through endless loops teaching me how to be patient. Every aspect of this failure has built me up and prepared me for college. It is easy to understand those who have grown up in nothing but comfort, sitting back and becoming a number in the education system. This will not be me, I want to advocate for myself and become the best person I can, creating a life for myself that I want.

That being said, thank you Mrs.Bartus for supporting me, for still sending your resources into my hands, for wanting me to be successful, for allowing me to see how much you do not only for me but for every student you work with. Your work is no longer unseen in my life, I am thankful for you and all you have done for me. Thank you.