Education and the Stretch of the Imagination by Angelle

Education and the Stretch of the Imagination by Angelle - July 2019 Scholarship Essay

There are many different variations to the word education. For some, it means graduating high school or completing some form of vocational training. For others, it means to further their schooling to its full extent, continuing on to almost a decade of specialized medical training. However, someone can have a passion to learn no matter how long they choose go to school. Having a passion for education means they choose to dedicate their time and full attention towards absorbing course material, no matter how challenging. Being smart doesn't dictate somebody's desire to learn, its their motivation to do their personal best, whether that score is a 100% or a 75%. Any student who is resilient enough to bounce back from a failing grade shows their desire and drive to succeed. Even the most determined students, in their darkest moments, will question why they set aside so much of their lives towards something that is seemingly never-ending. A passion for education will eliminate any doubts in one's mind and assures them that there is a reason for their efforts.

Education promises success. We all want to succeed in life, but we all have different definitions of success. Personally, I hope for much more than affording my own home one day with a career that sustains me. I have a passion for education that drives me to want change. That passion is what keeps me up late at night finishing that final paper. It is the determination in my eyes as a memorize another flash card. I imagine a world where people are healthy, mother earth is clean, and violence is a thing of the past. Only when I see these things come become reality will I consider myself successful. I know that with the personal efforts I put in, and the efforts of all of my fellow classmates, we will accomplish more than any generation that came before us. Although what I am doing now may seem small and insignificant, it is a simple step in my long journey to a world I wish to see. Education allows my wildest dreams to become reality, in its most essential form, it is an enabler.

In today's modern world, anything can be done. Society has created medicine that can cure some of the most vicious of diseases, our phones can provide an answer to any question we can think of, and Adam Savage literally just made a fully functional Iron Man suit. In order for any of this to have happened, inventors and designers alike must have had a passion to perfect their craft. Scientists dedicated their time to studying, observing, and critically thinking to untangle the most complex of global problems. Education teaches students to develop their own thoughts and opinions to create a better society. They dreamed of a quicker way to manufacture. They dreamed of a world without Polio. They dreamed of a world where you could press a button and talk to people on a different continent. The most determined individuals work towards their degree so that some day they will see a world they love. That's my plan. Education allows your wildest dreams to come true, no matter how ridiculous. Reality is limitless when you are learning.