Blurred by Alysha

Blurred by Alysha - July 2014 Scholarship Essay

In a high school as large as mine, a student sees a multitude of new faces every year. They encounter at least one new teacher of whom they have never heard. They will most likely be in at least one class full of students they have never talked to or seen before. Every year there will be change: new faces, new voices, and new influences on their opinions and attitudes.

These constant changes become a blur and the importance of finding positive direction cannot be overemphasized. For me, that positive influence came through my AP Lang teacher, Ms. Wilson.

When most teachers walk into a room, holding a cup of coffee, they go straight to their desk, not saying a word. Ms. Wilson, however, started each day with a smile and a “good morning” to her students and they returned the greeting. This showed the students that she cared about them enough to give them more than a silent nod each morning. The students and myself felt a connection with Ms. Wilson, due to her kind gesture, and listened more attentively and willingly to her than most other teachers—making all of us enjoy education a little more.

She was also a very honest teacher and directly stated her feelings about a writer, a piece, or a method of persuasion. She gained the trust of her students, including myself. Because of this they did not question the information she gave or the methods she taught. They could trust the education given and in turn treasure it even more.

Ms. Wilson felt very passionately about how a piece of writing could persuade people. This passion impacted the students and encouraged them to look at their work and the works of others with equal admiration. The students saw a new form of education—a more inspirational and meaningful form, which could only be taught through the passion Ms. Wilson showed her students.

At the beginning of the year, she mentioned the importance of learning to persuade others, making one look at the world in a new way. No matter what they watch, they will marvel at the person’s ability to appeal to certain emotions and feelings of the audience. Whether a news report, a presidential speech, or even a school announcement over the intercom, students will learn to analyze everything they hear. As a result, these skills will improve, allowing them to better understand what they are hearing so they can form a more accurate opinion.

During my whole school career, I have heard other kids ask, “When will I use this in life?” or “How will this help me in my life after school?” I used to believe that most of what we learned would not be helpful or useful unless our job specifically needed those skills. However, under Ms. Wilson’s teaching I have learned multiple uses exist for many of the things we learn. Not only will those things help us in our jobs but also in our everyday lives. Ms. Wilson’s passion for and dedication to her students changed the way I view the world and showed that education is more than just books and papers. It gives us the ability to navigate through a world that constantly changes. Education is the map through which we all need and rely on when the world becomes one big blur.