Communication Paves Ways for A's by Caitlin

Communication Paves Ways for A's by Caitlin - May 2021 Scholarship Essay

When we think about obstacles in our education, we focus on the 1000 word paper or essay-based test that seems impossible for a student juggling a handful of other classes and extracurriculars. What passes our perception of academic challenge are relationships that are built with teachers and peers that can be impactful on the success of a schooling career.
In my freshman year of high school, I was very unspoken and didn’t feel the need to talk to my classmates or participate in class. I kept to myself when it came to assignments and wouldn’t ask my teachers for help even though I was having obvious trouble with the content being taught. There were three months in the first half of the year where I would come into class, not participate during lessons or collaborate with other students, and then receive poor marks.

Then, one cloudy day in Mr. Namerow’s English class, I was assigned to a group for our first group project of the school year. I was terrified. The thought of having to communicate back and forth with peers that I hadn’t spoken a word to and conquer a presentation analysis of The Scarlet Letter seemed like climbing the Himalayas and back Thankfully, Mr. Namerow assigned the groups based on our grouped table seating, so at least I had the names of the peers I’d be working with. Then, it was an exchange of emails, a setup of a few meetings outside of class, and we were on our way to completing the project. Surprisingly, I enjoyed bouncing off ideas with my working peers. It never occurred to me how helpful other thoughts could be when studying a piece of literature. We ended up receiving an A on the presentation

I decided from then on I would use my voice in class to help myself succeed in my classes. I met with my teachers in classes that I was still having difficulty in asking for additional assignment help. I reached out to peers who grasped lessons easily for coursework help when needed. Being able to make small steps in communicating in school allowed me to receive stellar marks on the rest of my freshman year classes. I have taken what I learned from this time into my future endeavors in academia. Taking the extra steps to build relationships with those closest to me in school has paved many pathways for my academic success since this experience.