The Unknown Stories by Arwa

The Unknown Stories by Arwa - October 2018 Scholarship Essay

Throughout our lives, we are taught "the way" of success. We see nothing but the path we have seen for years. A path which is narrowed down to the base of "success", our education system. Between this all lies the expectations thrown onto individually unique and talented students who are pressured to peruse their life long careers based on the number at the top of their exam papers or the letters on their report cards. We are told to think outside of the box, to find new ways, to discover our hidden powers, but nothing around us supports us enough to do so.
Thinking outside of the box doesn't just bring a certain thought to mind or a certain experience, but rather it highlights the flaws of our society and the murder of individuality. It reminds me of the millions kids in school like me, but can't just earn A's and 100's, rather they can paint or draw, they can sing and dance, they can joke and act, but they can't make it outside the "box" due to the lack of support from the entire nation.
This certain phrase as a young girl, brought me many positive and beautiful concepts to mind, but as of now, they express a horror of how much we lack thinking outside of the box. It describes our human nature and isn't outside the box at all because it is what should be much more normalized than being trapped inside this box. It shows the true reality of our perfect America where there are opportunities, just so long you stay inside the box.
This may not seem to be the ideal, optimistic, response to the prompted question, but it is more than false reality. This perspective of "thinking outside the box" is to be a means of a wake up call to every human, to stop being trapped inside this box, but rather climb out, and find your own surface.