The Fire Within by Anthony

The Fire Within by Anthony - October 2019 Scholarship Essay

Inspiration: The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something. This word comes in many different forms, during many different times. From football games where inspiration is drawn from coaches, fans, and the want to play for injured teammates, to Boy Scouts, where the inspiration is found within a desire to better myself and all of those around me. I find inspiration in everything I do so I can push myself that much harder; when I picture academic inspiration I can only see two people: my parents.

My parents have been pushing me in my studies from a very young age. They were never overbearing and forcing me to memorize things. Instead, my parents encouraged me to pursue whatever it was that I found fascinating in the world. When I was younger I had a fascination with automobiles and how they worked. My father, having been a mechanic for some time, would teach me about them and he would take me to auto shows so I could learn more about other people's cars. My father would, and still does, encourage my learning about anything; I believe this set up a great foundation for me to build upon through my schooling career. Neither of my parents ever make school seem like a chore that I have to complete; they push me to do my work, but they also encourage me to have fun while doing it.

My mother would sit down with me to make sure everything was going well in school and would provide me with whatever help she could whenever I needed it. From my first seven hours spent in kindergarten to this day, my mom has been there to help me. This showed me, from the first time I asked for help, that my education was a priority in the household. My mom is the first person to recognize when I need a break. She will do something with me for a fair amount of time and then allow me to continue what I was doing with a fresh mind, urging on my learning in a positive manner. Before every quiz or test, my mother is right there helping me study. These aspects illustrate her dedication to my schooling, an inspiration that I draw upon every day.

The word inspire comes from a Latin word meaning to inflame or blow air into. My parents have blown life into my fire and caused it to burn with an eagerness to explore the world and learn about anything. This inspiration is what carries me through life. They have taught me how to find enjoyment in school and how to find something intriguing in everything. My parents have taught me invaluable skills that most students lack, and I hope to, one day, blow life into someone else's fire as my parents have done for me.