English: Toolbox of Prosperity by Avery

English: Toolbox of Prosperity by Avery - October 2016 Scholarship Essay

Grammar, vocabulary, spelling, syntax, diction—there are seemingly infinite components of English, and a student more easily thrives in any class whenever these skills are well developed. In order for a young mind to employ them, however, these elements must first be taught, and in order for them to be taught correctly and have a lasting impact on a student’s writing and speech, they must be taught with passion, care, and patience. I speak from experience; in charge of our school’s program for the intellectually gifted, one of my favorite middle school teachers, Mrs. Lewis, was strict and firm, yet she embodied every ideal quality of a top-notch English and Reading educator. She was a shining example for all, and she instilled excellent grammatical and overall professional habits not just in me but in every student she touched. She so powerfully impacted my own life that she helped me discover a personal and unshakeable affection for English itself—so significantly that I strongly believe that by emulating her effective teaching style and methods, I too would thoroughly enjoy—even excel—at teaching English to bright, youthful students in a comparable classroom setting.
In any event, I typically find that whenever I become intrigued by something, no matter how random or commonplace, I begin to see its relevance to many aspects of life that I had never noticed before. English is no exception. For example, as I previously mentioned, English—reading, writing, and speech—has an undeniable affiliation with every academic subject and even some that are not necessarily scholarly. This is because the subject is essentially our national means of communication, which is vital to our country’s social and intellectual capacity. A scientist cannot optimally express a lab report’s findings if he is incapable of using language to explain an experiment’s variables, testing methods, and concise conclusion. A famous baker cannot sell many cookbooks if she fails to clearly use her writing skills to introduce a recipe’s required ingredients, the preparation process, and critical instructions. A student cannot earn an impressive grade on a United States history test if he is unable to explain how Paul Revere alerted the colonists of the arrival of the British on American soil. Undeniably necessary and practical, the English language allows speakers to express themselves and their work for constructive purposes. This, however, requires proper knowledge and usage of language, the basis of which a teacher must impart to a student.
Powerful and prevalent, English is spoken not only domestically but also worldwide, and as our country’s official language, it is used in business transactions, on billboards, on restaurant menus, and almost everywhere one finds textual information. Proficiency in the language is so crucial to prosperity in America that we have ESL—English as a Second Language—classes in most schools and towns so that immigrants may assimilate more easily into our culture. As a teacher to students with diverse backgrounds, I would be able to teach children about this significance to our world and their own lives. Students from the East to West coasts are young but on the cusp of adulthood; they are certainly in desperate need of ample communication skills, which will help make them employable in the near future. English may be spoken or written colloquially or formally and read with many different accents, but no matter the tone of the text, students of all backgrounds progress toward excellence in any variation of the language’s use with proper guidance. Simply stated, the mastery of both basic and advanced skills of reading, writing, and speech will helps people of all ages achieve their dreams, yet it requires the efforts of a persistent, capable, and encouraging English teacher to foster these abilities.
Much like the way in which Mrs. Lewis’ teaching is still fondly prominent in my mind half a decade later, teaching this subject would allow me to make a similarly positive mark on youth. I desire to create a legacy among those with whom I come into contact, and because each student must take an English course annually, I would have a myriad of opportunities to channel my high hopes for my students and their results into tangible achievement. I love both English in general and the teachers who so thoughtfully exposed me to its magic. Therefore, it would be incredible to someday realize that I too have nurtured even one student’s corresponding affinity for the subject. If I could reverse my role as a student with that of my English teacher, I would forever be greatly comforted knowing that I have the chance to inspire and instruct someone else, who wears the student shoes in which I recently walked, to precisely and compellingly use language to his or her advantage. Figurative language, details, imagery, and many more aspects of English all work together to form a magical and dynamic language, and as the teacher of such a mighty subject, I myself would adopt its boundless influence.