The Unwanted Award by Daryk

The Unwanted Award by Daryk - March 2014 Scholarship Essay

My greatest academic achievement is winning the English award at my high school three years in a row. Of course, many people would agree that this is an outstanding achievement, but I doubt anyone would guess why it has impacted me so greatly. The reason this achievement has had such a great impact, is because I did not want it.

I plan on majoring in Mechanical Engineering in college. I love Mathematics and science, so I decided to get a degree in which I will be able to use both. I have always been a good Math student. I always made A's and usually did exceptionally well on tests. Math always came easily to me, so I never struggled in my classes. Because of my skills in Mathematics, I always assumed it to be my greatest strength.

I will never forget the day of my first Awards Banquet in May of my Freshman year. I had assumed that I received and invitation to the banquet for an award in Geometry Pre-AP or Biology Pre-AP, but it was not for either of those. The award was for English I Pre-AP.

Before this time, I had never thought of myself as an exceptional student in English. I always made good grades in the classes, but I never felt that I did well on the State TAKS tests on the subject. I had always enjoyed reading, but I never realized how much that mattered or affected me. I was ultimately surprised when I received the award. Of course, in the end, I was happy; but, I was also angry.

I wanted, and still want, to be a Mechanical Engineer. I wanted to be awarded and commended for my Math and science skills. I kept thinking that if I was only awarded for my performance in English, I would not get any scholarships for engineering. I assumed that in order to be noticed in the engineering field, you had to have awards in math and science. What use was an award for English if my major did not even require any more English courses than the basics? I was utterly disappointed.

The next year I got another invitation to the Awards Banquet, and I went hoping that it was for Algebra II Pre-AP or Chemistry Pre-AP. I, once again, was let down; I got the award in English II Pre-AP. Do not misunderstand me, I was extremely happy to have gotten an award. I worked hard throughout the year, and it felt great to have gotten something to show for it. Only, it was like Christmas when you are a child. You leave clues and try to tell your parents about the awesome toy that has come out that you really want. The big day comes and you open your presents and see all of the wonderful gifts that you had gotten, but that one toy that you had been hoping for all year was not there. This was how I felt.

It was not until the third time I received the award for my English class that I really was able to understand and appreciate its value. I realized that my awards in English were not a representation of how I was not a very good student in Math or science; they were a representation of how although I am a good student in Math and science, I am also an exceptional student in English. I decided to not dwell and bicker over my lack of awards in the fields that I really wanted, but to put the obvious skills I have in English to use.

My English awards have given me more confidence of my abilities and a better understanding of myself than I believe any Mathematics or science award would have. I now know not to doubt myself, but to push harder for the level of greatness I hope to achieve. I am truly thankful of those awards and the impact they have had on my life.