There's More Than Just One Way by Carolyn

There's More Than Just One Way by Carolyn - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

The shoe isn’t the same fit for everyone. Because we each have different backgrounds, interests and goals, all of our lives are unique and they cannot fit the same mold. When it comes to a teen about to finish their high school career, such as me, this is especially important. The next stage of our lives is a few months away, and the question of how we will pursue our future plans needs to be answered. One common thought when thinking about the future is college. Many students make the decision to head to college, but some decide otherwise. Regardless of what they pursue, students should know that going to college is not necessary for everyone. Getting a post-secondary education is not always important because it is based on a student's career choice and you do not need to go to accomplish one’s goals.

When I joined my school’s yearbook in my sophomore year of high school, I had no idea that I would come out changed. The years before I envisioned myself graduating high school and going after a career in art, but I didn’t know at the time if I needed a degree. Digging my head deep into the depths of Google, I researched the path other artists took. Some of them decided to get a degree at university, some did not and others even decided that going to an art school was best for them. Now it was time for me to choose. However, when I began to cover school football games, pep-rallies and theater productions, my heart landed in a different place. I realized that I wanted to write and talk about current events happening around the world. I wanted to be in the middle of history in the making, and show people every day my new stories about the undiscovered. I wanted to raise awareness on problems that are underrepresented in the media. I wanted to be a journalist. After doing research like I did before, I figured that I needed a degree in journalism or communication to help me build stronger storytelling abilities. Because of my own personal journey, I believe it is essential for every student to take a glimpse at what they want to do in the future- whether that is dance, law, engineering or sports- and decide if they need a college education for it. College is mostly vital for students who are wanting to work in areas like STEM or other areas that require more education and learning, but it is not vital for everyone. From their research, they can decide if college is best for them, just like how I decided if it was best for me in the fields of art and journalism.

Some people believe that the key to achieving a successful life can only be reached by going to university, but that is not the case- take my parents as an example. They moved to a new country, did not know one word of the primary language and neither one of them had a college degree. However, they did not let these obstacles stop them from reaching their goals. They wanted to find a way to help provide for their families back home while at the same time build themselves a new life. They decided to create their own salon business back in 2000. As of the year 2020, the business stands strong and they were able to both financially help their families and create their own family here, all without the need for a college degree. My parents remind me everyday that you do not always need to follow the traditional path to accomplish your biggest aspirations. In replacement, they have shown me that regardless of what I do in the future, it is more important to always have courage, grit, and perseverance in my back pocket- ready to take on my most challenging goals in life.

College is like food: not everyone has the same taste. So when it comes to deciding whether attending college is important or not, look at where you want to head first.
If you can do it without a diploma, that’s okay.
If you need a diploma, that’s also okay.
At the end of the day, your end goal is the finish line.
And if your pathway takes you there,
that is all that matters.