Potential by Alyssa

Potential by Alyssa - January 2018 Scholarship Essay

If I had to choose one word to explain why I want to go to college, I would choose the word potential. According to Merriam-Webster, potential means existing in possibility or capable of development into actuality. When I think of going to college, I see myself going out into the world and becoming the person I have always wanted to be. Through academics, studying abroad, and leaving home, college will help me become the person I have always dreamt of being.
I have always been academically inclined and have striven to do my best in high school so that I can one day get a job and live the life that I want to live. By attending college, I will be able to learn how to become an Occupational Therapist so that I can touch the lives of others in need. Without college, I won’t be able to reach my full potential and become an Occupational Therapist. College will help me to see how far I can push myself academically and help me learn as much as I possibly can.
Studying abroad is at the top of my list for things I want to do in college. I have always dreamt of one day traveling the world and getting to experience the beautiful sights and various cultures. College will give me access to study abroad programs so that I can go out and explore the world while also getting an education. I believe that going out into the world and experiencing different ways of life is an important thing that everyone should embark on, if possible. Seeing different ways of life can humble someone and seeing the beauty of the world can make you thankful for the life you have. Studying abroad could change me in a way that I won’t know until I have done so.
As someone who lives in a small town, where the only thing to do is go to Walmart or Dunkin Donuts, I have always dreamed of either living in a big city, or living in the mountains where I can experience the beauty. Leaving for college causes you to live on your own and allows you to experience different parts of life. I want to attend college so I can have new experiences and learn what it’s like to live in a big city where there’s anything and everything, or live in the mountains where I can go on hikes and explore the beauty of nature. Living on your own causes people to become better versions of themselves as they learn what it’s like out in the real world.
I chose the word potential because it means that you are capable of turning possibility into actuality. I want to go to college so that I can be the best version of me that I possibly can be. College academics will help me be the best Occupational Therapist that I can be. It will allow me to touch the lives of others and change their lives for the better. Studying abroad will allow me to see the beauty of the world and experience different cultures which will change me as a person. Living on my own will allow me to experience new things and become an independent woman who doesn’t have to rely on her parents for everything. I want to go to college so that I can experience the real world and realize my full potential in life.