Passion is the Key to Success by Courtney

Passion is the Key to Success by Courtney - September 2014 Scholarship Essay

All throughout my life, my passion and dedication has allowed me to excel in my activities and education, and for this reason I believe that the skill of perseverance is necessary to succeed in college and in any area of life. Without dedication to specific goals, students are hesitant or unwilling to put in the effort necessary to achieve long term results, since the distractions of everyday life can lead individuals down the wrong path. For example, if during high school you do not commit to academic excellence by studying hard and not procrastinating, it could lead to laziness and an unwilling attitude towards seemingly insignificant but critical tasks such as homework. Being reluctant to complete a task due to a lack of perseverance directly translates into a failure because there is no desire or effort to achieve future goals.

When I had to write the rough draft of my Extended Essay for the IB Program this past summer, my love for Literature and writing allowed me to enjoy my work, and as a result I tried my hardest to complete the assignment above and beyond the requirements for a rough draft. Instead of putting off the work until the end of the summer and focusing on the short term, I knew that every point I earned would bring me closer to my final IB Diploma that I have been working towards the past three years. However, many of my classmates procrastinated working on their essays due to a lack of enthusiasm and willpower, and their final products are of a lesser standard, and this will hurt their grades and overall score when the final deadline comes. Focusing on what's truly important and consistently staying true to your goals is one of the main aspects of perseverance, and this quality has a huge impact on an individual's work ethic and overall standard of excellence.

Outside of the classroom, perseverance also controls an individual's success in terms of extracurricular activities such as sports. Athletes who consistently and wholeheartedly practice their sport everyday are the ones who are successful due to their desire to never settle for "good enough." On the other end of the spectrum, without a desire to win or improve their skills, players will reach a plateau in their careers that may demoralize them and stagnate their growth as an athlete. In this way, personal drive is absolutely critical to stand out and become a champion in any area of athletics, not simply skill.

As I transition from the high school environment to the unfamiliar setting of college life, I hope to stay true to who I am and my values of dedication and perseverance to maintain academic success in spite of the increased difficulties of college and new circumstances. As long as I stick to my goals, I know that I can achieve anything, and for this reason the skill of perseverance is truly necessary for any college student to excel in their studies and activities despite the myriad of distractions and temptations that surround new college students.