Academics are Important, but the Experiences are what make a DIFFERENCE by Cassandra

Academics are Important, but the Experiences are what make a DIFFERENCE by Cassandra - June 2013 Scholarship Essay

One usually relates college to receiving a higher education, but to me it means gaining knowledge and experiences that I wouldn't otherwise get. The academics aspect of college is very important because it teaches students specific information and background knowledge about the field they plan to enter in, but the experiences one gains is even more important. I have just completed my first year of college at the University of South Florida. I learned useful information in my classes, but I gained skills and knowledge about myself as an individual and  leader through the experiences I was able to have. I became very involved my first year by joining leadership boards, applying for leadership retreats, and finding employment in an organization that benefits the community. Being a part of two leadership boards really helped me find where my strengths and weaknesses lie. I am staying on these boards for the upcoming school year, and using this as an opportunity to use what I've learned to be more effective in my duties. I've been very confident for two years that I am a leader, but now I have been able to find opportunities to practice and develop my leadership furthermore in college. I have found an office, the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement, that is filled with mentors and other student leaders wanting to do the same things I do; make a difference and lead effectively in our communities. It is the most rewarding thing to engage in such experiences because I am learning things about myself that will help me as a professional Social Worker, that a textbook or classroom environment could never teach me. Information is learned in a classroom, but valuable lessons are learned through one's experiences. Attending college is giving me the opportunities to grow personally and professionally and allowing me to do what I love, which is to lead.