A Perspective on Education from a Military Brat by Elizabeth

A Perspective on Education from a Military Brat by Elizabeth - November 2015 Scholarship Essay

Every two to three years of my childhood, I moved to a different state for my father’s job as a military officer. Every two to three years, I would switch schools. Every two to three years, I would be introduced to a new school system with a new curriculum. I am most thankful for the opportunity to move around the country and experience different types of schools. In total, I went to ten different schools and tried three different types of schooling. I began in a private Catholic school, went through seven different public schools, and two dual credit programs at universities. While some students might see this as disruptive to their education and social life, I embraced the opportunities to try different types of schooling, curriculums, dress codes, cultures, and levels of education.
Some schools did not offer the classes I needed or could not fit the necessary classes into my schedule from a lack of classes offered. While I found this frustrating, counselors often found different ways for me to receive the essential courses for my schooling. In order to work with my schedule, I have taken home-schooled physical education. I have run after buses trying to get from one school campus to the other because one school did not offer a class the other school did. However, the most difficult task of moving around from school to school was the hassle of transitioning from school to school. When a student moves from one state to the next, there are different requirements for graduation, course titles for the same class, schools that do not give credit to advanced credit received in middle school, and different ratios for course credits.
All of these obstacles enabled me to adapt to change, which is essential for developing and advancing in the world. This aspect of my education made me adapt to the differences in education around the world. This aspect allowed me to be more understanding of where others come from and their backgrounds in education. By moving around the states, I became aware of each state’s belief on economic values and educational funding. Moving allowed me to see a bigger picture than just one city a student grows up in their entire life. From this aspect of my education, I hope to strive from the knowledge I have gained from moving around to succeed in my future.