The Little Things by Charity

The Little Things by Charity - March 2014 Scholarship Essay

Looking back throughout my career in academia, I would say there were rare moments where I did not feel a strong drive to do “the best” when it came to assignments, tests, and projects. Of course, if I’m being totally honest I would have to admit that this drive began to diminish once high school hit. Not completely, mind you, but rather it just wasn't quite as overbearing. Suddenly, I found myself content with just being, “good enough” on a number of occasions. Once senior year rolled around and I found myself with not a single clue as to where I wanted to go with my life, I determined that the best option for my post-secondary education would be to go to a community college.

This did not excite me. This did not require that I maintain a certain GPA or have an extensive list of extracurricular activities or community service. I became entrapped in contentment with “good enough” and slightly less frequently, I even accepted “below average”. In fact, I would almost say I gave up. Sure, by the time graduation arrived I had still managed to graduate with the fancy gold tassel but I knew deep down, however cliché it may sound, that I had not completed my high school year to the best of my abilities. I could have done better. My attitude had been nothing short of apathetic. I watched my fellow classmates with their multitudes of cords and their first choice acceptance letters to some of the top colleges with scholarships, smiling and guffawing as we waited to receive our diplomas and I just kept thinking to myself, “why is that not me?”. I knew why, and just a few evenings later as I was talking it over with my boyfriend, who had always been quite the overachiever, I melted down. I could never get that opportunity back, was all I could think. This may sound melodramatic but I even began questioning my own character.

Flash forward to my first semester at the local community college. I was taking 17 credits, including two lab sciences, and was beyond resolute to get a 4.0. Not too surprisingly, this posed a great challenge. Biology and College Chemistry were not going to be easy feats. Chemistry had created the biggest challenge, as it was meant to weed out potential science majors that may not be cut out for it. On varying occasions I found myself slipping into that apathy that had greatly dissatisfied me not so long ago. However, I tried. By the end of the semester I had a B and was feeling a bit defeated, but I had one more chance. The professor had a rule that if you could receive an A on her final exam she would bump your letter grade up. This was a huge advantage and it could possibly give me just what I desired. The only hang up was just how difficult a cumulative college chemistry final is, and of course, science had never been my strong suit. (I cannot explain why, at the time, I thought I wanted to pursue a science based major, but I digress). For the entire week before finals, I devoted majority of my study time to chemistry. I’m not sure I can fully portray just how nervous I was on the day of the exam but I checked and double checked every answer at least three times after the lengthy test.

Late-mid December, I discovered I had, in fact, received an A in Chemistry 111. This meant I got an A on the final. I honestly cannot remember the last time I was so proud of myself. I had earned that exam score. I was so happy that I didn't even mind the single B I had in Biology. Not only had I earned just under a 4.0 for the semester, but I had done so all while working over 20 hours a week. I realize this isn't some great academic feat but out of all of the successes I have had throughout my time in school, this one left the greatest impact. It’s shown me, however cliché it may sound, that I can be far stronger than any amount of apathy I may begin to feel. That I can be more driven than I have given myself credit for and because of that, I am more motivated than ever in what is now my journey to receive a degree in Secondary Education.

I believe most students probably struggle to recall a particularly “astounding” academic achievement, at least one that would be viewed as such by anyone else. Rather, I believe, many students (if I should continue with the clichés) find the “little things” make the biggest impact. Getting that A may seem small to some, but to me, I don't know that I could have learned that valuable lesson in any other way.