All I've Learned and What's to Come by Chase

All I've Learned and What's to Come by Chase - November 2016 Scholarship Essay

As I make my journey through high school, I’ve learned more than the curriculum. I made new friends, discovered new methods to organize my life, and - perhaps most importantly - found who I was. I never could have imagined that I’d be a thespian officer for my school’s troupe, one of the top scorers on my school’s academic decathlon team, or the editor-in-chief for my school’s newspaper. When I first graced the halls of Jefferson High, none of those things were close to on my mind. It took a couple of years, but I soon realized the things that made me who I am.
I have a strong passion for the arts and being in theater allows me to showcase the talents of the actors in my troupe on stage. Not many things can compare to the rewarding nature of spending six weeks putting together a show and seeing it come to life on opening night. Working with the talented instructors allowed me to go from a nervous rookie to a composed leader.
By attending the University of Iowa, I hope to be involved in the arts, but especially somewhere on stage. Whether that means being an actor, a behind-the-scenes worker, or a stage manager, I see myself immersed in the arts for years to come. College will be a perfect atmosphere for me to learn and expand on the knowledge I already have.
Being on the academic decathlon team, I spent two years sharpening my study skills and forming a strong base for learning. I learned all about India my junior year and I’m currently working hard to know all there is regarding World War II. These skills I’ve attained will certainly help me in the future, especially when taking the tests for the academic competitions later this year.
In college, I will be able to learn about even more topics in such an extensive way. Academic decathlon has shown me how much I like music and literature, so I’m excited for the opportunities to build on those interests in college. The study skills I’ve gained from this rigorous coursework will certainly help after high school.
Ever since I was in elementary school I knew I wanted to write, but it wasn’t until the late stages of middle school where I really knew I wanted to tell stories and inform the public through journalism. Becoming the editor-in-chief of the newspaper has shown me what it will take to excel in the hyper-competitive field that is news journalism, but the skills I’ve learned in high school are setting me up on the path to success.
The U of I will most certainly build upon those skills, especially at the Adler school of journalism. This aspect of college is one I’m most excited about, one I’ve been working toward for years. I’m thankful that I’ve been blessed with the tools to face the competition in the field of journalism, but those alone will not be enough; I must strive to learn all I can in college in my journalistic studies.
The aspect I am most thankful for regarding the college experience has to be the school of journalism and the many exciting and exceptional things it offers. I hope to write articles for the Daily Iowan, build on the basics that I already know, and establish myself as a respected young writer in the community. All of these things would not be possible without the school of journalism at the University of Iowa. I am looking forward to competing with all of the other journalists, as well as utilizing the great opportunities that will surround me at the university.