Balancing Act: Formal and Informal Education for a College Athlete by Colin

Balancing Act: Formal and Informal Education for a College Athlete by Colin - June 2024 Scholarship Essay

Informal education has played a significant role in my academic success by allowing me to supplement my formal education and engage in self-directed learning. I am a college athlete and my daily schedule is very busy. I am expected to go to morning workouts, classes, practices, qualifiers, practice rounds and tournaments. Especially while in season I might miss a lot of class. Educational websites and videos are very helpful to give me the information I have missed from not attending class. I have also been able to use how to videos to improve my golf game and other activities like disc golf and replacing golf club grips.

Although golf is not directly related to my academic success, I am on the golf team at school and I need to keep my grades up as well as my game. This informal learning gives me the opportunity to learn independently and I have resources to use in the future.

By using both formal and informal education I have richer educational experiences. This not only allows independent learning but also equips me with a diverse skill set and knowledge base that will prove invaluable in the future. It's about striking a balance between structured education and self-directed exploration, ensuring a well-rounded collegiate experience.