A Daydreamer's Epiphany by Brandi

A Daydreamer's Epiphany by Brandi - June 2016 Scholarship Essay

As John Dewey once said, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself” and similar to life, education comes with countless obstacles and challenges that affect people in different ways. As for me, I have never had much trouble staying organized, having clear priorities, or declining social invitations when I know I have an enormous pile of work in front of me. However, one problem I always seem to run into is daydreaming. It does not matter where or when; my mind just drifts off at its on leisure. Even though most people might think that it is a horrible habit and I need to learn how to focus more in class, it has actually aided in my creativity and with so little of that being left in the education field I have become extremely grateful for it.
During class lectures it is almost guaranteed that I will zone out; which means that I often miss key sections from the lesson. Since this is the case, I just always figured I had a really short attention span, so I tried to drown myself in note taking to ensure that my focus would always be on my professor. Even though this method did not work all the time, it still lessoned my amount of daydreaming overall. However, last year I had the opportunity to write an analytical essay revolving around five minutes of silence, so I was able to let my mind wander as much as it pleased. Within my essay I gave a detailed recollection of my daydreaming and I realized just how in depth my mind was capable of being. I ended up getting an A on the essay and my professor commented on how thorough my thoughts were and that daydreaming is actually a sign of creativity. This realization opened my eyes and I came to the conclusion that daydreaming could either be a hindrance or I could channel it into something positive. It did not take long for me to puzzle together how it could be a huge benefit in my life. Being an English major I am always looking for fresh and original ideas for my writing and my mind is one place where I know I can find my most authentic creations. Daydreaming is the one time where a person’s mind can roam freely and really capture the most unique and special ideas.
I will be forever thankful for my professor’s guidance in my acceptance of my obstacle and its transformation into an asset. Now every time I daydream I try to really focus on what my mind is telling me and incorporate it into my writing. Since daydreaming is something I have experienced since I was a small child and I know I will always live with, so I might as well make the most of it throughout the rest of my life and mold it into helping me succeed.