It Starts with a Smile and a Handshake by Collier

It Starts with a Smile and a Handshake by Collier - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

Hello, my name is Collier Brereton. I have completed two years at Western Washington University and am currently in progress in completing my third year here now. One New Year’s Resolution that will help me to become a better student this 2016 year is to seek out lasting friendships with my peers and teachers.

I have been in the Plastics and Composites Engineering program here at Western for almost one year. Throughout this last year faces have begun to be more familiar in my engineering classes as I am taking courses with many of the same people quarter after quarter. I am beginning to see that I will likely be in this program with these same people until I graduate. This is very similar to what a job will be like, I imagine, after we graduate college: we will be working and communicating with the same people for a long period of our lives. When I am in my future job at a company where I can use the engineering knowledge I have gained, I want to have good relationships with those I am working with. I want to be their friend rather than just being their coworker. I want to be able to say, “Hi”, to them knowing that they enjoy my presence at work and having them know that I enjoy their presence as well. This kind of atmosphere not only feels good, but is also essential in a successful company or work place. It is motivating and encouraging to come to work when you know you are valued there. One way to achieve this atmosphere in the future is to practice it in college. This is why one of my New Year’s Resolutions will be to create lasting friendships with my colleagues and professors. This will help me become a better student by helping to prepare me for my life after college. It will teach me how to develop positive, enduring relationships with those around me that sometimes, may be difficult to work with. It will show me how to sustain a friendship while also working together. I am glad I have had the opportunity to have conversations with some of my peers about their lives beyond the classroom already. For example, in one conversation, I learned that one of my colleagues, Alexi, posted a video on Youtube that became popular about his son Nate unexpectedly falling off a playground structure then smiling after he got up like it was a thrilling carnival ride! Alexi talks about his two sons and wife often. I want these kind of friendships with more of the students I have classes with!

One good way to start a friendship like this is by saying hello and meeting them, which starts with a smile and a handshake. Some ways I can continue this goal are trying to meet one new person each week, inviting my peers out to lunch, or even hosting a social gathering where we can have fun together and get to know each other a little more, beyond just the classmate level. This goes for my teachers as well, since I will likely be around the same teachers for the rest of my time here at Western.

Thank you very much for your consideration of my essay!

Sincerely,

Collier Brereton