#freethink by Cori

#freethink by Cori - April 2018 Scholarship Essay

The longer I'm in school, the more I grow as a free-thinker.
In the past, I relied on my parents, the news, my teachers, Google, and other resources to TELL ME what to think. Because I didn't have much of an education, I simply rehearsed information that others had told me. I noticed upon entering university that as much as I valued the opinions of others, I had a hard time coming up with my own stance on issues we discussed in class. Quickly, I began to envy the professors and students in my classes who spoke about important issues with views that were their own. I grew tired of repeating information I’d heard, and longed to join the debate with my own voice.
Since I've been in school, I've learned how to think for myself. The more that I learn in class, the more equipped I am to think objectively over ideas, rather than run to someone else for an answer. While I used to rely on my parents' opinions, I'm forming opinions of my own and challenging the old views I once held. I'm learning to ask questions and broaden my thinking to include other views and cultures that I am not familiar with. The process has sharpened my mind, as well as empowered me to use my voice, not mimic other people’s.
Being in school has expanded my thinking. The more that I learn, the more liberty I have to face the world with my blinders off. School has given me the freedom to think for myself.