The Passion of Learning by Autumn

The Passion of Learning by Autumn - July 2019 Scholarship Essay

Sometimes when we stop and take a moment to admire the things that excite us, we find a passion. This is how I have always felt about my education. I am aware that many students struggle with finding a passion in education. Many may feel that it is something that they must endure, something that they are forced to do. However, some students face challenges that others may not. This alone makes those students have gratitude for what most take for granted. They strive to succeed because they were told they would fail. They may live in poverty, are abused, face emotional challenges, have health issues, or are victims of the opioid epidemic. I was one of these students.
It is hard to put into words how much education meant and still means to me. It means a better chance at life. You see, I had so many reasons to fail. I struggled with basic needs, was abandoned by my mother, was on food stamps and fee waiver, and had many health issues. I was destined to become another statistic of l teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, or drop out. At times, it was hard to leave my personal and home life at the classroom door. However, I refused to let the aspects of my home life be responsible for what I would or would not achieve. I used learning as an escape. To me, it meant everything. Life may have been unpredictable, but my education was not.
The world of education and learning fascinated me from an early age as it inspired me to learn. It empowered me to overcome obstacles that I otherwise would not have been able to face. It gave me a passion for learning and a passion for life. Every piece of information was exciting and new. This did not end whenever I graduated high school. I am not sure if the passion for learning ever truly does end.
I believe there is a passion in all students to learn. We all carry it in us. The trick is finding what education means to you. To me it means a better chance at life, a chance to spread knowledge, a chance to make a mark, and a chance to change my life. It is whenever you walk into a library and love the smell of the old books. It is when you are excited on the first day of school. It is when you are eager to find others who share your love of learning.
People may have many different definitions on what a passion for education means to them. To me, having a passion for education means finding light in the darkness. It is finding inspiration when I needed it the most. Having a passion for education means bettering myself.