History: Changing My Future by Cassandra

History: Changing My Future by Cassandra - August 2016 Scholarship Essay

Studying the past offers far more than merely learning about historical events. Rather, studying the past provides an opportunity for growth, understanding and enlightenment of the world around us. This knowledge is gained through taking historical information and adding context to the events. Learning how to love and study history, in all its varieties, has proven beneficial in the classroom, as well as in numerous personal, life experiences.
As a student in high school, history was the class that made the world around me come alive. Understanding the motives and desires of the pilgrims, the beliefs of our Nation's Founding Fathers or grasping the depth of shock that tore through America with the assassination of JFK, all transpired in a simple high school history class. It was there I first felt connected to America's unique and delicate tapestry. The context of the struggles, and details of events, resonated deep to my core. High school history, taught me to dig deeper, look for more information, and try to understand what led to some decisions that shaped this great Nation.
This study does not stop with simply understanding the processes which transpired to bring about specific events; it opened my eyes to the need for the courage of conviction, the reality of unalterable consequences, and the idea that there is undeniable context to my life and the lives of those around me. What were their stories? What can I learn from their experiences? These questions helped me grow as both an academic student, and a student of life. For example, my mom never graduated high school. She raised my brother, sister and I on her own. This life was very difficult. Though she worked tirelessly for our well-being, life could have been better, had she a proper education. This was a heavily emphasized subject in our home. Through her circumstances, I had a first-hand account of the consequence of some of her life events. Therefore, my brother, sister, and I focused hard on the importance of an education. Thus, history shaped me as a student. I understand the sheer grit and gumption necessary to achieve goals. In the Fall I will be a sophomore in college, with a cummuliative GPA of 3.97. I feel confident about this choice to gain a higher education, and even more confident as a student, all because of a simple history class in high school. History changed my future.