What aspect of your education are you most thankful for? by Brenda

What aspect of your education are you most thankful for? by Brenda - November 2015 Scholarship Essay

The aspect of my education that I am most thankful for is the interactions with other people; whether on-line or in person. I purposely chose a liberal arts college, because I wouldn't describe myself as "one of those."
People who look, act and think differently than I are a value to me. We all have differences in where we came from and the events that happened along our journey. I don't know everything but with combined experiences and cultures, maybe we can make this world a better place. Even though we don't agree, we can most certainly get along or at least tolerate one another. It is these personal opinions that people hold so close and are so emotional about. What makes a pattern of thought, emotional?
While I don't understand all the different opinions, they are certainly entitled to those opinions. It is up to me to embrace the freedom of expression, freedom of thought and freedom of fear of retaliation. It is what makes our nation great.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to be in a position where I can be exposed to people who think in a very different way than I do. I believe that by the time I get my degree, it will make me a better person with an influence that will lead to a brighter future for my immediate surroundings, and maybe even on a bigger scale. Who knows?! While I have no hope for common thought, I do have hope for tolerance.